Relationship between the paraoxonase 1 gene glutamine 192 to arginine polymorphism and gestational diabetes mellitus in Saudi women

•This is the first study carried out in GDM and PON1 gene.•The result indicates there is a correlation between Q192R genotypes and glucose levels in the GDM women.•Case-control study was carried out with PCR-RFLP and PAGE analysis to identify the accurate results.

ObjectivesGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is recognized as an imbalance between insulin resistance and insulin secretion, leading to maternal hyperglycemia. Previous studies in a Saudi population indicated a high frequency of Paraoxonase 1 glutamine 192 to arginine (PON1 Q192R) polymorphism, suggesting this polymorphism as an additional risk factor. The present study was designed to explore the possible association between the PON1 Q192R polymorphism and GDM in a Saudi population.MethodsThis case–control study was carried out in 500 pregnant women, including 200 GDM cases and 300 non-GDM women. Genotyping for PON1 Q192R (rs662) variants was performed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP).ResultsThe results of the present study indicates that Q192R polymorphism was significantly associated with GDM in a Saudi population with the minor allele frequency (MAF) (p = 0.0007). Q192R genotypes and alleles showed a strong association with GDM (p = 0.009 and p = 0.0007, respectively).ConclusionIn conclusion, these findings suggest that the PON1 Q192R polymorphism has high MAF in GDM in the studied Saudi population.