Serum chromium and gestational diabetes.

Objective: To prospectively assess if chromium levels are different in gestational diabetics than in nondiabetic pregnant women. Therapeutic options could exist if levels are different.

Methods: We conducted a 2-year prospective, gestational cohort study. The cohort included newly diagnosed pregnant patients. Two blood samples were taken, the first at consent, the second at the time of diabetes screening.

Results: Five hundred eighty patients entered the cohort. One hundred fifty-five were lost to follow up and 425 patients completed the study (396 nondiabetics and 29 diabetics). The patients with gestational diabetes were significantly older, with a family history of gestational diabetes, and were significantly more likely to have been a gestational diabetic in a previous pregnancy (P < 05). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups for chromium levels both at enrollment (0.15 +/- 0.06 ng/mL vs 0.14 +/- 0.03 ng/mL; P = .28) and during the second trimester (0.14 +/- 0.06 ng/mL vs 0.14 +/- 0.04 ng/mL; P = .82).

Conclusion: Serum chromium levels do not exhibit any significant variation between gestational diabetic women and nondiabetic women when assessed prospectively.