LEPTIN GENE, LEPTIN GENE POLYMORPHISMS AND BODY WEIGHT IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE I

There have been several genetic causes of obesity discussed by past authors, among others leptin, that have provided information regarding signaling pathways in energy expenditure in humans. Genetic variants of the leptin gene and its receptor may influence body weight. Aim: To investigate the role of the leptin gene's polymorphism promotion region (2548 G/A) and the leptin gene receptor polymorphism (668 A/G) and its associations with body weight in pregnant women with type I diabetes (PGDM-1). Methods: 78 PGDM-1 were qualified to the study group (SG) which was divided into normal and over-weight individuals according to BMI criteria. The control group (CG) consisted of first trimester healthy pregnant women with normal body weight. Genetic variants of the leptin gene and its receptor were analyzed using PCR-RFLP assays. Within the SG, the following metabolic parameters were estimated: Ml3G, HbA1C, insulin dose, LDL, HDL, T-CHOL, creatinine, creatinine clearance and blood pressure. Results: There was a trend found among the majority of homozygous A and G variants in LEP -2548 G/A and LEPR 668 A/G in over-weight and obese individuals in comparison to normal-weight subjects (CG). There were no specific differences found in selected first trimester metabolic parameters in relation to patients' genotypes.