HMOX1

This study explored the relationship between maternal serum heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) concentrations in early pregnancy and the subsequent risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a case-control study nested within a prospective cohort of pregnant women (186 GDM cases and 191 controls). Serum HO-1 concentrations, measured at an average gestational age of 16 weeks using ELISA, were analyzed for their association with GDM risk using multivariate logistic regression models. The results indicated that women who developed GDM had significantly lower median serum HO-1 concentrations compared to those who remained euglycemic (1.60 vs. 1.80 ng/mL, p = 0.002). After adjusting for maternal age, race, family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and pre-pregnancy body mass index, women with HO-1 levels in the highest decile (≥3.05 ng/mL) exhibited a 74% reduced risk of GDM (95% CI: 0.09–0.77) compared to those in the lowest quartile (<1.23 ng/mL). These findings suggest an inverse relationship between serum HO-1 levels and GDM risk, highlighting the potential role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of GDM. Further studies are needed to validate the clinical application of HO-1 as an early diagnostic marker for GDM.