Oxidative DNA damage in early pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A pilot study

ObjectivesTo examine the association of maternal early pregnancy oxidative stress with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Design and methodsA pilot prospective, nested case–control study was conducted. Study participants were recruited before 20 weeks gestation. Maternal urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of systemic oxidative DNA damage and repair, was measured using competitive immunoassays. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).ResultsElevations in early pregnancy urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were associated with increased GDM risk. After adjusting for confounders, the OR for extreme quartiles (≥ 8.01 vs. < 4.23 ng/mg creatinine) of 8-OHdG was 3.79 (95%CI 1.03–14.00). The risk for GDM was highest for overweight women with urine 8-OHdG concentrations ≥ 8.01 ng/mg creatinine (OR = 5.36, 95%CI 1.33–21.55) when compared with lean women who had 8-OHdG concentrations < 8.01 ng/mg creatinine.ConclusionsElevated urine 8-OHdG concentrations in early pregnancy appear to be associated with increased GDM risk.