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Review of Current Evidence on the Impact of Environmental Chemicals on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

  • Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology (EF Schisterman and E Yeung, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Pregnancy is a naturally insulin-resistant state and may be an important window of susceptibility in determining a woman’s lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes. Exposures to environmental chemicals that act as endocrine active compounds may mimic or disrupt hormones that regulate insulin action or maintain glucose homeostasis. In this commentary, we present the animal evidence that explains the biological plausibility for an association between environmental chemicals and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We review the current epidemiological evidence examining the associations between GDM and bisphenol A, phthalates, air pollution, and toxic metals including arsenic and cadmium. We briefly discuss the strengths and limitations of the current evidence and offer recommendations for future studies that attempt to assess the impact environmental chemical exposure has on GDM. Lastly, we discuss the health implications for women that experience GDM during pregnancy and the importance for examining how environmental chemicals may play a role in the etiology of GDM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie, EAD 709H, Fort Worth, TX, USA

    Candace A. Robledo

  2. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Box G-S121-2, Providence, RI, 02912, USA

    Megan E. Romano

  3. Departmento de Biología Aplicada and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202, Elche, Spain

    Paloma Alonso-Magdalena

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Correspondence to Candace A. Robledo.

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C. Robledo, M. E. Romano, and P. Alonso-Magdalena declare no conflict of interest.

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All animal studies by P. Alonso-Magdalena and human studies by C. Robledo and M. Romano were performed after approval by the appropriate institutional review boards. When required, informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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Robledo, C.A., Romano, M.E. & Alonso-Magdalena, P. Review of Current Evidence on the Impact of Environmental Chemicals on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Curr Epidemiol Rep 3, 51–62 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-016-0070-z

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