Comparative Evaluation of Chromium and Cadmium in Gestational Diabetes and Healthy Pregnant Women

Diabetes is a most common chronic disease. Gestational diabetes is one type of diabetes that starts during pregnancy. Saliva sampling as a simple diagnostic method can reflect the serum changes. Antioxidants, especially micronutrient and toxic metals, can influence diabetes pathogenesis and its complications. According to the limited studies available in this field, the aim of this study is to evaluate salivary chromium and cadmium levels in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, in comparison with non-diabetic pregnant women.

This case control study was conducted between 2009 to 2011 in Hamadan city. Samples of 5cc unstimulated saliva from 35 gestational diabetes mellitus and 35 non diabetic pregnant women of a same age range were collected. Chromium and cadmium was measured by the atomic absorption method. Data were analyzed by t-test using SPSS software.

cadmium level was higher than in the control group (P=0.001), but Chromium showed a nonsignificant decrease (P=0.254).

Results of this study show chromium and cadmium levels differed between gestational diabetes mellitus and non diabetic pregnant women, a difference that was statistically significant for cadmium, and saliva sampling can be used instead to measure these metals.