Association between serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and gestational diabetes mellitus in primiparous women

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 151; pp. 706 - 712
• Main Authors: Eslami, Bita, Naddafi, Kazem, Rastkari, Noushin, Rashidi, Batool Hossein, Djazayeri, Abolghasem, Malekafzali, Hossein
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-11-2016
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Case-control study; Diabetes, Gestational - blood; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Gestational Age; Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - blood; Humans; Iran; Logistic Models; Maternal Exposure - adverse effects; Parity; Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs); Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; Pregnancy; Iran, Tehran; Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs); Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; Case-control study; Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.09.002

There is growing evidence that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may play an important role in increasing the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
The aim of this study was to examine the association between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, 10 congeners) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs, 8 congeners) and GDM in primiparous women with no family history of diabetes in first-degree relatives during the third trimester of pregnancy.
This case-control study was performed among the three university hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Serum samples were collected from cases (n=70) that were diagnosed with GDM and from controls (n=70) with a normal pregnancy that attended the same hospital for a routine prenatal visit. Pollutant levels were analyzed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS).
Logistic regression analyses manifested the positive association between total POPs (sum of total PCBs and PBDEs) (Odds ratio (OR)=1.61, 95% CI: 1.31–1.97, p-value <0.0001) and total PCBs (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.35–2.27, p-value<0.0001) and GDM considering confounding variables (age, gestational age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and total maternal serum lipid). In addition, we found a positive association between total PBDEs and GDM (OR =2.21; 95% CI: 1.48–3.30, p-value <0.0001). Finally, we found a positive association between Ln PCB 187, 118 and Ln PBDE 99, 28 with GDM. Meanwhile a negative association between Ln PCB 28 and GDM was established.
Our data suggest that exposure to certain POPs (PCBs and PBDEs) could be a potential modifying risk factor for GDM.
•Case-control study was conducted to evaluate the association between POPs and GDM.•A strong positive association between Ln PCB118 and PBDE28 with GDM was manifested.•Exposure to serum PCB and PBDE levels is one of the modifying risk factors for GDM.•Evaluation the routes of exposure and trends of POPs in pregnant women recommended.