Serum carboxymethyl-lysine, a dominant advanced glycation end product, is increased in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aims: The objective of the study was to measure one of the circulating Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) - Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) - in a case-control study (n = 307) of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and physiological pregnancies and to ascertain the factors contributing to CML levels and the potential relevance of CML for selected perinatal and postpartum outcomes.

Methods: All subjects underwent oGTT between 24th and 30th week of gestation and GDM was diagnosed according to WHO criteria. CML was determined by ELISA using commercial kit.

Results: Unadjusted and plasma protein adjusted CML levels were significantly higher in women with GDM compared to healthy controls (P = 0.00043 and P = 1x10(-5), respectively, Mann-Whitney). CML was significantly inversely correlated with both pre- and mid-gestational BMI, however, differences between GDM and control group remained significant even after adjustment for BMI. CML levels correlated with 1-h and 2-h post-load glycaemia during oGTT.

Conclusion: In conclusion, we found statistically significantly higher protein- and BMI-normalised CML levels measured during 24-30th week of gestation in women with GDM compared to healthy pregnant controls. Further studies are warranted to comprehensively asses the spectrum of AGEs in GDM and their relevance to future metabolic health of mother and offspring.