Determining the content of antioxidants present in the diet of pregnant women with or without a diagnosis of gestational diabetes

• Grant number: 14/26875-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: August 01, 2015
• End date until: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Anna Karenina Azevedo Martins
• Grantee: Flavia Kimura Okamoto
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Gestational diabetes (GD) is a condition defined as carbohydrate intolerance and hyperglycemia, beginning in the second trimester of pregnancy, which suggests the inability of ² cells to respond to increased insulin demand. Results of our group have shown that progesterone (PG), a hormone whose concentration increases considerably during pregnancy, is related to death of pancreatic ² cells, which could contribute to the development of GD. Nevertheless, the mechanism involved in the progesterone-induced cell death is not yet completely understood. Since progesterone has been implicated in the death of some cell types by a mechanism dependent on the redox state of cells, we are interested in investigating if there is a relationship between the intake of dietaryantioxidants, which is related to the antioxidant state of the individual, and the development of GD. In this context, this project open the perspective for a better understanding of the GD physiopathology, which can result in actions, involving the manipulation of diet, for the controlling and preventing of this condition.