The The bridge between adiposity and insulin: Unmasking resistin’s role in gestational diabetes
Keywords:
Resistin, Gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, normal glucose toleranceAbstract
Impaired glucose tolerance due to increased insulin resistance and/or insufficient pancreatic β-cell compensation is the hallmark of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), an important metabolic disease of pregnancy. Among the various adipokines implicated in the pathogenesis of GDM, resistin has attracted considerable attention for its potential role in insulin resistance and glucose metabolism. This review aimed to evaluate the available evidence on the association of resistin with the development of GDM and its potential utility as a predictive biomarker. Available evidence suggests that resistin, secreted by both adipose tissue and the placenta, may contribute to pregnancy-induced insulin resistance and dysglycemia. Several studies have reported elevated maternal resistin concentrations in women with GDM, particularly during the second and third trimesters, whereas others found no significant association. These inconsistencies may reflect differences in study populations, obesity status, gestational age, and analytical methods. Nevertheless, prospective studies indicate that elevated resistin levels may precede the diagnosis of GDM, highlighting its potential as an early biomarker. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to clarify the precise role of resistin in GDM pathophysiology and prediction.
[J Assoc Clin Endocrinol Diabetol Bangladesh, July 2026; 5 (2): e90630]
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