Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The liver stores 10 μg cobalamin per gram protein and able to hold 50% (1–1.5 mg) of body’s B12. Making up the bulk of the liver, hepatocytes express receptors regulating cellular uptake of B12 in the liver. However, relationship between circulating and intracellular B12 levels as well as regulation of hepatic uptake of B12 is unexplored.Objective: To assess the regulation of cellular uptake and storage of B12 in hepatocytes in...

Background: Metformin is utilized in clinical trials for treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity. Metformin increases AMP:ATP ratio activating AMP activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα), a mediator of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in the liver. Meanwhile, prolonged oral metformin therapy in T2DM decreases vitamin B12(B12) in patients and evidence shows that low B12 dysregulates lipid levels. We therefore investigated whether low B12 impairs FAO ind...

Background: Studies have shown that interruptions in sedentary time in non-pregnant adults is positively associated with metabolic parameters, including abdominal obesity and glucose tolerance. However, there are no specific guidelines in the UK about recommended physical activity for pregnant women nor any validated tools to measure it. Our aim was to determine how much physical activity is carried out by pregnant women and how it relates to body anthropometry, glucose tolera...

Aims: Vitamin B12 insufficiency has been linked with adiposity and insulin resistance. A clinical study from India showed that B12 insufficiency in pregnancy was associated with higher risk of gestational diabetes (GDM), mediated by maternal BMI. It is not known whether the same association exists among pregnant women in the UK.Methods: A retrospective study was done on women attending our antenatal clinic from 2010–2013. Information including mater...

Research question: Are there ethnic differences in foetal growth patterns in GDM?Methods: Retrospective data collection was undertaken for all women with GDM between 2008 and 2012 at University Hospital Coventry. Foetal biometric data was obtained at 28, 32, and 36 weeks gestation for 125 South-Asian (SA) and 142 WC.Results: Compared to WC, SA had had lower BMI (28.5±6.1 kg/m2 vs 32.2±7.4 kg/m2), hei...

A 64-year-old female presented to the acute medical take with hypercalcaemia. She had a 3 weeks history of polyuria, polydipsia, constipation, intermittent abdominal pain and feeling depressed. She reported weight loss of 3.5 kg over the past 6 months. She denied symptoms of dysphagia, dyspnoea, haemoptysis, haematemesis, or malaena. Her past medical history included anaemia, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and uterine prolapse. She was an ex-smo...

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentrations are reduced by 20–50% in type 2 diabetes but studies in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are inconclusive. Our aim was to study the GLP-1 profile during a glucose tolerance test (GTT) at GDM diagnosis and its relationship with insulin levels.Methods: A prospective study of selectively screened women was conducted. Plasma GLP-1, insulin and glucose were measured at 30-minute int...

Background: Low vitamin B12 (B12) during pregnancy is associated with higher maternal obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and gestational diabetes (GDM). However, it is not clear whether these are causally related.Objective: B12 is a key co-factor of the DNA methylation cycle (1-carbon metabolism). We hypothesize that B12 plays a role in epigenetic regulation by altering circulating miRNAs (miRs) during adipocyte differentiation...

Background: Vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency results in disturbance of 1-carbon metabolites [methylmalonyl coenzyme A (MMA), homocysteine and S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH), S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) and methionine] that collectively affect lipogenesis leading to risk of cardiovascular diseases. In clinical studies, B12 deficiency is associated with higher BMI and dyslipidaemia (high triglycerides and low HDL). The role of B12 in hepatic metabolism of...

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentrations are reduced by 20–50% in type 2 diabetes but studies in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are inconclusive. Our aim was to study the GLP-1 profile during a glucose tolerance test (GTT) at GDM diagnosis and its relationship with insulin levels.Methods: A prospective study of selectively screened women was conducted. Plasma GLP-1, insulin and glucose were measured at 30-minute int...