IMR Press / FBL / Volume 27 / Issue 2 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2702056
Open Access Communication
Pre-pregnancy BMI but not mild stress directly influences Interleukin-6 levels and insulin sensitivity during late pregnancy
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1 Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases, Helmholtz Center Munich, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
2 German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
4 Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
5 Department of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Interfaculty Centre for Pharmacogenomics and Pharma Research, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
6 Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Nephrology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
*Correspondence: ilena.bauer@uni-tuebingen.de (Ilena Bauer)
Academic Editor: Marina Ivanišević
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2022, 27(2), 56; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2702056
Submitted: 9 November 2021 | Revised: 17 December 2021 | Accepted: 23 December 2021 | Published: 12 February 2022
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: This study investigates the influence of maternal stress during pregnancy on maternal insulin sensitivity and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in pregnant women (N = 277) in dependence of pre-pregnancy Body-Mass-Index (BMI). Methods: Gestational diabetes was diagnosed in 80 women. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D) to investigate maternal stress during pregnancy with a higher scoring indicating higher maternal stress level. IL-6 and cortisol were measured and maternal insulin sensitivity was assessed with the non-esterified fatty acid insulin sensitivity index (NEFA-ISI). Generalized Linear Model analysis was used to analyze effects within different stress groups. Results: Maternal low stress symptoms during pregnancy showed no significant association with maternal insulin sensitivity or IL-6. Higher cortisol levels during pregnancy were associated with elevated IL-6 concentrations. Pre-pregnancy BMI had the strongest positive effect on IL-6 levels and was negatively associated with insulin sensitivity during pregnancy. Conclusions: Therefore, preconceptional interventions to reduce BMI are needed to improve maternal metabolism during pregnancy.

Keywords
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Maternal stress
Obesity
Interleukin-6
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