Do Resistin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Relate to Changes in Insulin Resistance in Normal Pregnancy?

Problem statement: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of resistin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in insulin resistance during pregnancy. Approach: Serum resistin and TNF-α concentrations were measured by ELISA in 86 healthy pregnant women (26, 23 and 37 of them in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, respectively) and in 21 healthy non pregnant women in a cross sectional study. Results: Resistin concentration was significantly higher in the third trimester (9.5±3.3 ng mL^-1) as compared with non pregnant women (7±3.3 ng mL^-1). Serum TNF-α level were also significantly increase in pregnant women (2.6±1.9 pg mL^-1) as compared with maternal healthy controls (0.8 ±0.7 pg mL^-1). There were significant correlation between gestational age and BMI (r = 0.28, p = 0.01), resistin (r = 0.36, p = 0.002) and TNF-α (r = -0.44, p<0.0001). There was not significant correlation between gestational age and Insulin Resistance (IR). We also did not found correlation between IR and resistin as well as between IR and TNF-α in pregnant women. Conclusion: TNF-α and resistin do not appear to contribute greatly to pregnancy induced insulin resistance in healthy pregnancy.