Behenic acid alleviates inflammation and insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus by regulating TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

Summary: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a distinct form of diabetes that poses a significant threat to the health of both pregnant women and fetuses. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of behenic acid (BA) on glucose metabolism, inflammation, and insulin resistance in GDM mice, and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. Here, we demonstrated that daily administration of 10 mg/mL BA during pregnancy effectively ameliorated abnormal glucose metabolism in GDM mice and their offspring and improved birth outcomes in the offspring. Moreover, BA promoted the proliferation of islet β cells, restored their normal function, and augmented glucose uptake by skeletal muscle cells. Mechanistically, BA mitigated inflammation and insulin resistance in GDM mice by inhibiting activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Our study provides compelling evidence supporting the efficacy of BA in improving GDM, suggesting its potential use as a dietary supplement for preventing and treating GDM.