A possible factor in developing Gestational Diabetes: iron overload.
About 6-9% of pregnant women in the United States develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
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While there are many potential factors involved in GDM development, a possible driver that is generally overlooked is iron overload.
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Feng et al. 2020 describe a few ways iron overload and glucose metabolism are connected:
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“...oxidative stress induced by iron overload can directly damage islet β cells, thus affecting islet function and leading to hyperglycemia.”
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“...iron is mainly deposited in the liver, and liver is an important organ of glucose metabolism; hepatic iron loading will increase the burden of liver and makes the liver work harder, thus inducing glucose dysregulation.”
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“The development of diabetes will also promote the deposition of iron, resulting in the increase of ferritin…[which] is related to the abnormal glucose tolerance, which means that excessive iron storage can promote the p@th0genesis of GDM.”
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“...the increase in iron storage during pregnancy in GDM women may cause the change in adrenal function, leading to the increase in stress hormones’ secretion, thus aggravating the original stress-adaptive disorder and further increasing blood glucose.”
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“The change in stress hormones can also affect the iron transport process; serum iron is positively related to insulin and blood glucose, suggesting that iron overload may be a risk factor for increased risk of diabetes.”
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“The lipid peroxidation caused by the increase in iron storage will reduce the utilization of sugar in muscle tissue, increase gluconeogenesis, and cause insulin resistance.”
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And they concluded: “Iron metabolism index is related to insulin resistance in GDM women. The change in iron metabolism may be involved in the p@th0genesis of gestational diabetes caused by stress- adaptive disorder.”
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One of my favorite tests of all time is the Full Monty Iron Panel. It gives us key insight into iron metabolism, which can be super beneficial, especially when preparing for pregnancy.
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I’ll be talking about more helpful screenings for preconception in my upcoming course. Sign up via the link in my bio to learn more.
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Not medical advice
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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.
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References
CDC. (2018). Diabetes During Pregnancy. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/diabetes-during-pregnancy.htm#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20about,pregnant%20women%20develop%20gestational%20diabetes.
Feng, Y. Feng, Q. Lv, Y. Song, X. Qu, X. Qu, H. Chen, Y. (2020). The relationship between iron metabolism, stress hormones, and insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus. Retrieved from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41387-020-0122-9.
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