Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces Serum Chemerin Level in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Rat Model

Abstract
Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder that increases the prenatal morbidity. Data regarding the association between circulating chemerin level and GDM remains controversial. On the other hand, Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnancy and may increase the frequency of GDM.
Aim of Study: This study was conducted to examine the effects of Vitamin D3 supplementation on serum chemerin level and some metabolic parameters in GDM rat model.
Material and Methods: Healthy female white albino rats were divided randomly into three groups (n=10 rats): Group I (normal pregnant group); fed on normal diet for five weeks before induction of pregnancy. Group II (GDM-induced); fed High Fat-Sucrose Diet (HFSD) for five weeks before induction of pregnancy then injected Intraperitoneally (I.P) by Strepto-zotocin (STZ) (25mg/kg) on the 7th day of gestation. Group III (GDM-induced group supplemented with Vitamin D3); GDM-induced as before and injected Intramuscularly (I.M) with 20,000IU/kg of cholecalciferol on days 1 and 14 of gestation. On the 19th day of gestation, serum chemerin, estradiol, progesterone, glucose, insulin and Insulin Resistance index (HOMA-IR), Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), Low Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), High Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), Very Low Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-c), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF a) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and Serum Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity were estimated for all groups.
Results: GDM-induced rats showed significantly increased serum glucose, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL-c, VLDL-c, MDA, and TNF a levels while showed significantly decreased serum insulin and HDL-c levels and SOD activity when compared to normal pregnant control rats. GDM-induced rats also showed significantly increased serum chemerin levels that showed significant positive correlations with serum glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL-c, VLDL-c, MDA, and TNF a levels but showed significant negative correlations with serum HDL-c level and SOD activity. Noteworthy, Vitamin D3 administration significantly improved these pa-rameters in GDM-induced group supplemented with Vitamin D3.
Conclusion: Our results denoted the protective effect of Vitamin D3 supplementation on GDM that may be through improving the antioxidant and inflammatory status. Decreasing circulating chemerin level may play a role in this protective effect.