Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 4 Serum/Urine Gradient of Post-Partum Women with Metabolic Disturbances

Abstract

Among novel adipokines fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) seems to be one of the most promising predictors of long-term metabolic pregnancy complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate FABP4 serum/urine gradients which are quotients of the serum FABP4 concentrations to the urine in women with excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the early post-partum period, with reference to their laboratory test results, body composition and hydration status. The study subjects were divided into three groups: 24 mothers with EGWG, 22 GDM patients and 24 healthy controls. Maternal body composition and hydration status were evaluated by the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. Concentrations of FABP4, leptin, and ghrelin were determined via ELISA. The FABP4 serum/urine gradients were comparable in the three studied groups. This parameter was positively associated with the serum FABP4 level only in the control group, whereas it was highly negatively related to the urine FABP4 concentrations in all the three studied groups. We found positive correlations between the FABP4 serum/urine gradients with albumin and LDL concentrations but only in the healthy controls. No correlation was found between the FABP4 serum/urine gradient and biochemical results in the EGWG and GDM groups. The FABP4 serum/urine gradient positively correlated with all the studied BIA variables with the exception of extracellular water (ECW) in the healthy group. The EGWG group was characterized by positive correlations between the FABP4 serum/urine gradient and lean tissue index as well as negative correlations with ECW. No correlations were observed between this parameter and BIA findings in the GDM group. Our results seem to confirm that further studies should not be limited to evaluation of serum FABP4 levels only.