Serum chromium and gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To prospectively assess if chromium levels are different in gestational diabetics than in nondiabetic pregnant women. Therapeutic options could exist if levels are different. METHODS We conducted a 2-year prospective, gestational cohort study. The cohort included newly diagnosed pregnant patients. Two blood samples were taken, the first at consent, the second at the time of diabetes screening. RESULTS Five hundred eighty patients entered the cohort. One hundred fifty-five were lost to follow up and 425 patients completed the study (396 nondiabetics and 29 diabetics). The patients with gestational diabetes were significantly older, with a family history of gestational diabetes, and were significantly more likely to have been a gestational diabetic in a previous pregnancy (P < 05). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups for chromium levels both at enrollment (0.15 +/- 0.06 ng/mL vs 0.14 +/- 0.03 ng/mL; P = .28) and during the second trimester (0.14 +/- 0.06 ng/mL vs 0.14 +/- 0.04 ng/mL; P = .82). CONCLUSION Serum chromium levels do not exhibit any significant variation between gestational diabetic women and nondiabetic women when assessed prospectively.