Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a major pregnancy complication that adversely affects fetal development. Emerging evidence implicates inflammation and oxidative stress in its pathogenesis, highlighting the need for in-depth mechanistic insights. Aged garlic extract (AGE) and its active compound, S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC), possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties in type I and II diabetes; however, their therapeutic potential in GDM remains unknown. This study developed a rat model of GDM (n = 40) by administering a high-fat diet before and during pregnancy, inducing GDM with Nicotinamide, and inducing chronic stress. Glycemic parameters, insulin signaling genes (IRS-2, AKT-1, and PCK-1), glucose transporters (GLUT-2 and GLUT-4), proinflammatory cytokines, and antioxidants were assessed on gestational day 5. GDM-induced rats (n = 6 in each group) received different treatments, including SAC, insulin, and their combination. On day 15, significant therapeutic benefits were observed in the SAC + insulin group. The model effectively mimics human GDM by demonstrating insulin resistance and dysregulated signaling pathways. SAC treatment reduced inflammation and oxidative stress and restored insulin signaling. GDM involves inflammatory cascades and insulin signaling dysregulation, whereas SAC, particularly in combination with insulin, shows promise as a therapeutic intervention for GDM. These findings provide valuable insights for future research and the development of novel GDM treatment strategies.
Wang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.