Journal article
Short-chain fatty acids as novel therapeutics for gestational diabetes
Rebecca Roy, Caitlyn Nguyen-Ngo, Martha Lappas
Journal of Molecular Endocrinology | BIOSCIENTIFICA LTD | Published : 2020
DOI: 10.1530/JME-20-0094
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects up to 16% of pregnant women and is associated with significant long-term health detriments for the mother and her offspring. Two central features of GDM are low-grade inflammation and maternal peripheral insulin resistance, therefore therapeutics which target these may be most effective at preventing the development of GDM. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate and propionate, are metabolites produced from the fermentation of dietary fibre by intestinal microbiota. SCFAs possess anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of SCFAs on inflammation and insulin signall..
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Funding Acknowledgements
Associate Professor Martha Lappas is supported by a Research Fellowship from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (University of Melbourne) and a Faculty Fellowship from the University of Melbourne. Caitlyn Nguyen-Ngo is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship. Funding for this study was provided by the Norman Beischer Medical Research Foundation and Austin Medical Research Foundation (AMRF).