The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus is increasing in parallel with the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity around the world. Current evidence strongly suggests that women who have had gestational diabetes mellitus are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Given the growing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus, it is important to identify appropriate reliable markers of cardiovascular disease and specific treatment strategies capable of containing obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in order to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in the women affected.

Background: Chronic intensive exercise is associated with a greater induction of oxidative stress and with an excess of endogenous advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Curcumin can reduce the accumulation of AGEs in vitro and in animal models. We examined whether supplementation with curcumin and Boswellia serrata (BSE) gum resin for 3 months could affect plasma levels of markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and glycation in healthy master cyclists. Methods. Forty-seven healthy male athletes were randomly assigned to Group 1, consisting of 22 subjects given a Mediterranean diet (MD) alone (MD group), and Group 2 consisted of 25 subjects given a MD plus curcumin and BSE (curcumin/BSE group). Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total AGE, soluble receptor for AGE (sRAGE), malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma phospholipid fatty acid (PPFA) composition, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were tested at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: sRAGE, NEFA, and MDA decreased significantly in both groups, while only the curcumin/BSE group showed a significant decline in total AGE. Only the changes in total AGE and MDA differed significantly between the curcumin/BSE and MD groups. Conclusions. Our data suggest a positive effect of supplementation with curcumin and BSE on glycoxidation and lipid peroxidation in chronically exercising master athletes.

It is well known that maternal obesity has adverse effects on the health of offspring, causing immediate and long-term morbidities. The various types of procedure coming under the heading of bariatric surgery have proved effective in preventing some maternal and foetal complications in morbidly obese pregnant women. This review aims to assess the role, the risks and the benefits of bariatric surgery for mothers and offspring. According to recent findings, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in morbidly obese women who have undergone bariatric surgery depend to some extent on the type of surgery used. Maternal complications, nutritional defects and intestinal obstruction are more frequently reported after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) than after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedures, whereas caesarean section, preterm delivery and neonatal death are more commonly reported after RYGB than after LAGB. The authors of the only long-term follow-up study conducted on this subject reported that the rate of obesity in the children dropped by 52% after bariatric surgery for the mother, and the cases of severe obesity decreased by 45%. Data on pregnancy and bariatric surgery confirm that the procedure is more effective than dietary measures alone in morbidly obese women, and that pregnancy outcome is generally favorable after surgery. Some studies have indicated, nonetheless, that pregnancies after bariatric surgery are at higher risk: the women affected require special medical attention, particularly as concerns gastrointestinal symptoms and vitamin deficiencies, warranting nutritional/dietary counselling by a multidisciplinary team before, during and after pregnancy.