The Predictive Role of Serum Uric Acid Levels Before Pregnancy in the Development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: With the prevalence of obesity, growing age of first pregnancy, highly processed high-calorie diet, consumption of saturated fats as well as sedentary and stressful life, the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing. We aimed to determine the predictive role of pre-pregnancy serum uric acid levels and the occurrence of GDM during pregnancy.

Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical study that was performed retrospectively through case-control. The Subjects of this study were women over 18 years of age who were 24-28 weeks pregnant. All subjects of this study were evaluated for GDM based on the ADA guideline and were divided into case and control groups. All data relating to the period of 6 months before pregnancy of the study participants including blood uric acid level, blood pressure, etc. were collected and analyzed.

Results: In this study, 454 normal individuals without GDM and 478 others with GDM were examined. The mean serum uric acid showed to be 4.47 ± 1.33 mg/dl in patients with GDM but 3.7 ± 1.25 mg/dl in patients without GDM ( value = 0.001). The results of the regression test showed that the incidence of GDM in people with blood uric acid levels of 4.1-5, 5.1-6, and more than 6 mg/dl is 2.46, 3.42, and 4.9 times higher in people with uric acid levels less than 3 mg/dl, respectively.

Conclusion: The present study identified that serum uric acid levels in the period of 6 months before pregnancy can be used as an independent predictor marker for future GDM.