Endogenous galanin as a novel biomarker to predict gestational diabetes mellitus

•Plasma galanin and GGT levels were elevated in patients with GDM.•A positive correlation was shown between galanin and GGT in patients with GDM.•A positive correlation was shown between galanin and glucose in patients with GDM.•A positive correlation was shown between galanin and BMI in both GDM and NGT.•Plasma galanin may be used as a novel biomarker to predict GDM in the future.

Although a significantly higher level of plasma galanin was found in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in our previous study, it is unknown whether plasma galanin is biomarker for the prediction of GDM. The present study aims to further evaluate the relationship between endogenous galanin and GDM in pregnant women and to find out the precise mechanism by which galanin plays role in the pathogenesis of GDM. The study registered thirty pregnant women with GDM and thirty pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Demographic and biochemical parameters and fasting venous blood samples of two groups were collected from all cases. Galanin was analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was measured by enzymatic methods. The plasma galanin and GGT levels were found higher in GDM compared with NGT (P < 0.001). In addition, a significant positive correlation was shown between galanin and fasting glucose (P = 0.049), 1-h glucose (P = 0.033), body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001) and GGT (P = 0.048) in pregnant women with GDM, whereas there was significant positive correlation between galanin and BMI (P = 0.030) in NGT group. The plasma galanin and GGT levels are higher in patients with GDM. The plasma galanin levels appear to be related to the changes of blood glucose, BMI and GTT in GDM. The higher level of galanin observed in GDM may represent a adaptation to the rise of glucose, weight, GGT associated with GDM. The higher level of plasma galanin is a novel biomarker for the prediction of GDM.