Researchers Find Another Possible Cause for Miscarriage in Women

High levels of the hormone insulin are toxic to human placenta cells, a new study found. The discovery may lead to a better understanding of miscarriage and infertility, and offer new solutions to help lower the risk of losing a baby during pregnancy.

The study was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, and examined placenta cells taken from three pregnancies during the first trimester and exposed them to insulin. Scientists observed that this damaged the placenta cells.

While it’s been known that women with insulin resistance have a higher rate of miscarriage, the connection between the two wasn’t fully understood.

Researchers say the hormone insulin isn’t the problem. In fact, insulin is what helps regulate blood sugar. The complication occurs when someone develops insulin resistance, in which the body doesn’t respond well to insulin, sometimes causing the pancreas to make more and more of the hormone.

In a separate experiment for the study, the researchers exposed a new set of placenta cells to both insulin and the drug metformin, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes. They found that pre-treating the cells with metformin blocked insulin’s harmful effects.

This study was performed on cells in test tubes, meaning the current results can’t be applied to people. But if the findings hold true in living organisms, it could help doctors better address pregnancy loss and infertility in people with insulin resistance.

For now, more research on the topic is needed, but it could pave the way for a better understanding of what factors may cause miscarriage.

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