VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCIES WHICH MAY PREDISPOSE TO GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE OF PREGNANCY

There is an increased requirement for nutrients in normal pregnancy, n ot only due to increased demand, but also increased loss. There is als o an increased insulin-resistant state during pregnancy mediated by th e placental anti-insulin hormones estrogen, progesterone, human somato mammotropin; the pituitary hormone prolactin; and the adrenal hormone, cortisol. if the maternal pancreas cannot increase production of insu lin to sustain normoglycemia despite these anti-insulin hormones, gest ational diabetes occurs. Gestational diabetes is associated with exces sive nutrient losses due to glycosuria. Specific nutrient deficiencies of chromium, magnesium, potassium and pyridoxine may potentiate the t endency towards hyperglycemia in gestational diabetic women because ea ch of these four deficiencies causes impairment of pancreatic insulin production. This review describes the pathophysiology of the hyperglyc emia and the nutrient loss in gestational diabetes and further postula tes the mechanism whereby vitamin/mineral supplementation may be usefu l to prevent or ameliorate pregnancy-related glucose intolerance.