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Capillary triglyceride levels fluctuate during late pregnancy
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High variability in capillary triglyceride levels exists during late pregnancy, but fasting and 2-hour postprandial levels are similar, study data show.
“Elevated maternal triglycerides are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes,” the researchers wrote. “In pregnancy, triglycerides are measured infrequently and mostly fasting, leading to a lack of data on the variability and flux of triglycerides.”
Helen L. Barrett, PhD, obstetric physician and endocrinologist at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, and a clinical academic in the School of Medicine, The University of Queensland in Australia, and colleagues evaluated data from 12 pregnant women (mean, 258 days’ gestation; 66% with gestational diabetes) who monitored their fasting and 2-hour postprandial capillary glucose and triglyceride levels for 6 days.
Compared with postprandial glucose levels (6.06 mmol/L), mean fasting glucose levels were lower (4.67 mmol/L; P < .001). Correlation was found between mean fasting and mean postprandial glucose levels for each participant (P = .02). No significant difference was found for mean fasting and postprandial triglycerides. Glucose and triglyceride concentrations in the fasting and postprandial states were not significantly correlated. Within- and between-person variability were found for across-day glucose and triglyceride levels, according to the researchers.
Infant birth weight and maternal BMI were not correlated with triglyceride or glucose levels in either the fasting or postprandial state.
“This pilot study of monitoring capillary triglyceride levels in late pregnancy found high variability in late pregnancy with no difference between fasting and 2-[hour] postprandial levels,” the researchers wrote. “The postprandial time point was chosen because women attending our institution routinely monitor their glucose levels then. This may be early, with nonpregnant individuals demonstrating a peak at 3 to 4 [hours] and 4 [hours] being the suggested optimal timing for postprandial triglyceride measurement outside pregnancy.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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