(P18-008-23) Association of BDNF Gene Variant rs925946 With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Risk in Israeli Women

Objectives: GDM is a prevalent condition that has significant impacts on the health of both the mother and child. BDNF plays an important role in regulating neurogenesis and neuro health, modulating energy expenditure, and modulating glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in general and in pregnancy in particular. BDNF gene variant rs925946 was linked to obesity. Our objective was to investigate possible association of common BDNF rs925946 with GDM risk in Israeli women.

Methods: Israeli women cohort (n= 2135, aged ≥ 18 years) and genotype data for BDNF rs92594682 were analyzed. Lifestyle and GDM state were obtained using online questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to analyze association between BDNF rs925946 polymorphism and risk of GDM, adjusting for potential confounders (age, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and BMI).

Results: The cohort BDNF rs925946 genotype frequency was 67.4% for the wild type (GG), 29.2% for heterozygous risk allele carriers (TG), and 3.4% for homozygotes for the risk allele (TT) with minor allele frequency of 19.6%. Significant association was found between carriers of at least one risk allele and higher GDM risk independent of BMI [OR= 1.81 (CI: 1.16-2.84; p=0.009)].

Conclusions: Investigating the association of BDNF rs925946 with GDM risk in Israeli women is an important step towards further understanding the genetic basis of GDM, establishing this variant as a genetic determinant of GDM risk. Further studies are in place to determine relevance of these findings to other cohorts.

Funding Sources: This study did not receive any specific grant.