Objective:To evaluate the association of maternal nutrition status in the first trimester with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and macrosomia.Methods:378 pregnant women who took prenatal care in Shunyi Women′s and Children′s Hospital of Beijing Children′s Hospital were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected at first prenatal visit (<12 gestation weeks) to measure the level of hemoglobin and iron status indexes including serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron binding capacity, iron saturation, transferrin saturation. The incidence of GDM and macrosomia were collected and Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of maternal nutrients status in the first trimester with GDM and macrosomia.Results:The incidence rate of GDM was16.9%,the incidence of anemia and iron deficiency in the first trimester were2.4% and 2.5%, respectively. After adjustment for variables such as maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, family history of diabetes, and parity, Logistic regression showed that in the first trimester, iron saturation>50% ( OR=0.238, 95% CI 0.068-0.831), transferrin saturation>50% ( OR=0.08, 95% CI 0.010-0.677) were protective factors of GDM; iron saturation 25%-50% ( OR=0.361, 95% CI 0.143-0.908); transferrin saturation 25%-50% ( OR=0.383, 95% CI 0.165-0.891); ferritin>30 ng/ml ( OR=0.418, 95% CI0.186-0.939) were protective factors of macrosomia. Conclusion:Maternal iron status in the first trimester might be associated with GDM and macrosomia. Thus, maternal iron status assessment in the first trimester is necessary.

Dysbiosis can cause microenvironmental dysregulation, which can further lead to local or systemic diseases, such as caries, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and diabetes. Dysbiosis is primarily manifested as the disturbance of metabolic processes and products. Arginine plays an important role in various metabolic processes and homeostasis of the microbial flora and the host. This study aims to explore the potential therapeutic value of arginine and its metabolism and homeostasis regulation in diseases associated with oral-intestinal dysbiosis. Host and microbial homeostasis can be restored by regulating the composition or function of host microbiota, and arginine has been found to exhibit significant clinical potential in restoring host microbiota composition and function. For example, arginine can reduce the risk of caries by regulating the relative abundance of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguineus. Additionally, arginine metabolism may play a therapeutic role in inflammatory bowel disease and obesity by regulating the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. In addition, supplementation of arginine and its metabolite polyamine has clinical prospects in the treatment of diabetic patients with ketoacidosis. Although studies have demonstrated the therapeutic role of arginine in oral, intestinal, and metabolism-related diseases, the specific mechanism is yet to be explored. In addition, further research is required to determine the optimal clinical dosage of arginine that can maintain microbiota homeostasis without causing any side effects.