Adipose Tissue Insulin Resistance in South Asian and Nordic Women after Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Kvist, Ahalya Anita Suntharalingam; Sharma, Archana; Sommer, Christine; Qvigstad, Elisabeth; Gulseth, Hanne Løvdal; Sollid, Stina Therese; Nermoen, Ingrid; Sattar, Naveed; Gill, Jason; Tannæs, Tone Møller; Birkeland, Kåre Inge; Lee-Ødegård, Sindre

South Asians (SAs) have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) than white Europeans, especially following gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Despite similar blood glucose levels post-GDM, SAs exhibit more insulin resistance (IR) than Nordics, though the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to assess markers of adipose tissue (AT) IR and liver fat in SA and Nordic women post-GDM. A total of 179 SA and 108 Nordic women in Norway underwent oral glucose tolerance tests 1–3 years post-GDM. We measured metabolic markers and calculated the AT IR index and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease liver fat (NAFLD-LFS) scores. Results showed that normoglycaemic SAs had less non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) suppression during the test, resembling prediabetes/T2D responses, and higher levels of plasma fetuin-A, CRP, and IL-6 but lower adiponectin, indicating AT inflammation. Furthermore, normoglycaemic SAs had higher NAFLD-LFS scores, lower insulin clearance, and higher peripheral insulin than Nordics, indicating increased AT IR, inflammation, and liver fat in SAs. Higher liver fat markers significantly contributed to the ethnic disparities in glucose metabolism, suggesting a key area for intervention to reduce T2D risk post-GDM in SAs.

NORWAY; GESTATIONAL diabetes; SOUTH Asians; INSULIN resistance; NON-alcoholic fatty liver disease; TYPE 2 diabetes; GLUCOSE tolerance tests; LIVER; ADIPOSE tissues

Metabolites (2218-1989), 2024, Vol 14, Issue 5, p288

2218-1989

Academic Journal

10.3390/metabo14050288