Pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technology (ART) may have a higher prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), although contributing factors remain unclear. An observational cohort study published in Nutrition & Diabetes evaluated the association between ART conception and GDM prevalence and examined related maternal serum biomarkers.

The analysis included 11,563 singleton pregnancies, with GDM diagnosed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. Among these, 2.3% were conceived through ART. Maternal characteristics, GDM prevalence, and late-pregnancy serum levels of folate, vitamin B12, and lipids were compared between ART and spontaneously conceived pregnancies. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the independent association between ART and GDM.

The overall GDM prevalence was 8.4%, with a higher prevalence in the ART group at 15.0%. Within the ART group, GDM prevalence was higher among women with advanced maternal age (23.2%), obesity (21.8%), and multiparity (25.0%). After adjustment for confounders, ART conception remained associated with increased GDM prevalence (adjusted odds ratio 1.49; 95% confidence interval 1.03-2.15).

Women with ART pregnancies had higher adjusted serum folate (β=3.58; 95% CI 1.96-5.21) and triglyceride levels (β=0.25; 95% CI 0.13-0.37) compared with those who conceived spontaneously. In the overall cohort, higher folate (adjusted OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.71-2.85) and triglyceride levels (adjusted OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.31-2.22) were independently associated with increased GDM prevalence. These findings indicate that ART pregnancies are associated with higher GDM prevalence and elevated circulating folate and triglyceride concentrations at delivery.