The change in sex hormone binding globulin and the influence by gestational diabetes mellitus in fetal period

Objective. To investigate the influence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the change of SHBG in fetus.

Method. Forty-eight pregnant women with GDM and 86 women with normal pregnancy were included in the study. The following were measured in the serums of pregnant women, amniotic fluids, and umbilical cord serums: glucose, insulin, peptide-C, SHBG, and sex hormones.

Results. SHBGs in pregnant women's serums were, when compared with the control group: in male fetuses 308.06 ± 55.64 vs. 445.21 ± 50.07 (p < 0.01) and in female fetuses 312.38 ± 56.61 vs. 451.05 ± 52.87 (p < 0.01). When comparing the levels of SHBGs in amniotic fluids, inclusive of the control group, the following were in male fetuses 8.35 ± 1.07 vs. 8.41 ± 1.09 (p = NS) and in female fetuses 8.31 ± 0.97 vs. 8.39 ± 0.94 (p = NS). For the levels of SHBGs in umbilical cord serums and comparison to the control group were: in male fetuses 41.44 ± 8.83 vs. 40.24 ± 7.50 (p = NS) and in female fetuses 39.93 ± 7.04 vs. 39.69 ± 7.16 (p = NS). The concentration of SHBG in amniotic fluid had no significant relationship to glucose, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS), estradiol, and total and free testosterone, but had an extremely negatively correlated to insulin and peptide-C (p < 0.01) in GDM group.

Conclusion. Although the concentration of SHBG does not change in fetus when pregnant woman is complicated with GDM, it is already influenced by the fetal regulation on hyperinsulinemia.