Vitamin B12 and Homocysteine in Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Their Association With Obesity
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The role of vitamin B12 in maternal obesity, insulin resistance, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is debatable. This study was undertaken to determine and compare the levels of serum vitamin B12 and homocysteine (Hcy) in pregnant women with and without GDM and to correlate them with maternal obesity. METHODS: A total of 45 pregnant women with GDM and 45 pregnant women without GDM between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation were included in the study. Their body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Vitamin B12, Hcy, lipid profile, and blood glucose levels were measured. RESULTS: Serum vitamin B12 levels were low in both GDM and non-GDM groups. Only four women from the non-GDM group had normal vitamin B12 levels. Women with GDM had a significantly better socioeconomic status, probably accounting for relatively higher vitamin B12 levels, i.e., 146.2 pg/ml compared to 112 pg/ml in the non-GDM women. Women with GDM had significantly higher BMI (p = 0.001), higher triacylglycerol (TAG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as compared to non-GDM women. No significant statistical difference in Hcy was found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Vitamin B12 levels were low in both groups of women, but were higher in the GDM group, probably because the higher socioeconomic status among women with GDM played a role. Vitamin B12 deficiency was linked with higher BMI, and women with GDM had higher levels of TAG, VLDL, and blood pressure, highlighting a state of insulin resistance.
Source: Cureus
Language: English
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7125665198