Neonatal amino acid metabolism in gestational diabetes mellitus mothers treated with different treatment strategies

Objectives The changes in amino acid (AA) levels have been observed in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, it remains unclear whether the AA levels in offspring of GDM mothers are affected by GDM. This study aimed to investigate the changes in AA metabolism in offspring of pregnant women with GDM undergoing different glycemic control treatment regimens. Methods 272 pregnant women treated at our hospital were selected and divided into the GDM and the non-GDM groups. The GDM group was further subdivided into three treatment groups: exercise-diet therapy, metformin therapy, and insulin therapy. The levels of 11 AAs of their offsprings were detected using tandem mass spectrometry and the differences in neonatal AA metabolism between the three treatment groups and the non-GDM group were compared. Results There were significant differences in the levels of Arg, Cit, Met, Orn, and Pro of their offsprings between different treatment groups and the non-GDM group (P < 0.05). After controlling for relevant confounding factors, the differences in Arg and Orn remained statistically significant in the three treatment groups compared to the non-GDM group (P < 0.05); Cit remained statistically significant in the exercise-diet group (P < 0.05); and Met and Pro remained statistically significant in the exercise-diet group and insulin group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Regardless of the glycemic control treatment regimens used for GDM, AA metabolism related to the arginine family is influenced.