Maternal plasma glucose at high altitude

Objective To compare plasma glucose in pregnant women living at very high a ltitude; pregnant women living at sea level; con-pregnant women living at v ery high altitude; and non-pregnant women living at sea level. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Ninety-four pregnant women attending for routine antenatal car e at 8-42 weeks of gestation in Cerro de Pasco, Peru which is situated 4370 m above sea level; 122 pregnant women in Lima, which is at sea level: 22 n on-pregnant women in Cerro de Pasco: and 31 non-pregnant women in Lima. Methods Plasma glucose concentrations were measured in sample, obtained fro m the antecubital vein between 8 am and 10 am after an overnight period of fasting for at least 10 hours. Results Fasting plasma glucose was lower in women at high altitude than in those at sea level, and ill both groups the level was lower in pregnant wom en than in non-pregnant controls. The body mass index uas not significantly different between all four groups. and it did not have a significant indep endent contribution in explaining the variance in fasting plasma glucose. Conclusion Women native at high altitude have lower plasma glucose concentr ations before and during pregnancy than those at sea level.