Lipid Profile In Ghanaian Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract - Lipid profile has been a useful tool for the efficient screening and management of patients with diabetes mellitus. Lipid profile changes associated with gestational diabetes mellitus GDM are well documented in other parts of the world but not in Ghana. The role of plasma lipids in the pathogenesis of GDM in Ghanaian women was investigated. Ante-natal patients were selected as a case control study including 100 patients with GDM cases and 100 pregnant women without GDM control. Mean values GDMs vs controls in mmolL of TG 2.29 0.07 vs 1.750.08 p0.001 TCHOL 7.260.16 vs 5.851.65 p0.001 LDL 4.71 0.17 vs 3.830.16 p0.001 and VLDL 1.120.03 vs 0.800.04 p0.001 respectively were significantly higher in GDMs than the controls. Mean HDL for the GDMs was significantly lower in GDMs compared to controls 1.20.07 vs 1.460.08 p0.023. Mean cortisol concentration for GDMs 50912.02ngml was significantly higher than controls 402.7013.12ngml p0.05. Also mean progesterone was significantly higher in GDMs 46.412.75ngml than controls 33.061.66ngml p0.05. These study showed that generally lipid parameters LDL total cholesterol VLDL were significantly higher in GDMs compared with controls. However HDL was significantly higher in controls compared with GDM.