FABP4

This study investigated the role of fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) in insulin resistance and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using a nested case-control design within a prospective birth cohort in Beijing, China. Plasma FABP4 concentrations in the first and second trimesters were found to be positively associated with fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance (measured by HOMA-IR) in the second trimester. Women in the highest tertile of FABP4 levels had a significantly higher risk of developing GDM, with adjusted odds ratios of 2.053 (95% CI: 1.091-3.863) and 2.447 (95% CI: 1.305-4.588) for the first and second trimesters, respectively. These findings suggest that elevated FABP4 levels early in pregnancy may serve as a predictor of increased insulin resistance and GDM risk, highlighting its potential utility in identifying high-risk individuals for early intervention.