Abdalla MMI, Ismail-Khan M. Liver as a metabolic sensor in gestational diabetes: Implications for offspring’s liver and diabetes risk. World J Hepatol 2025; 17(11): 110185 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i11.110185]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla, MD, PhD, Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, No. 126 Jln Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. monamohamed@imu.edu.my
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Endocrinology & Metabolism
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Review
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Nov 27, 2025 (publication date) through Dec 4, 2025
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World Journal of Hepatology
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1948-5182
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Abdalla MMI, Ismail-Khan M. Liver as a metabolic sensor in gestational diabetes: Implications for offspring’s liver and diabetes risk. World J Hepatol 2025; 17(11): 110185 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i11.110185]
World J Hepatol. Nov 27, 2025; 17(11): 110185 Published online Nov 27, 2025. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i11.110185
Liver as a metabolic sensor in gestational diabetes: Implications for offspring’s liver and diabetes risk
Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla, Mohammed Ismail-Khan
Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla, Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mohammed Ismail-Khan, Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead NE9 6SX, United Kingdom
Mohammed Ismail-Khan, Department of Physiology & Medical Education, Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad 500091, India
Author contributions: Abdalla MMI performed the research, wrote the manuscript and prepared the figures; Ismail-Khan M performed the research and revised the manuscript; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla, MD, PhD, Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, No. 126 Jln Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. monamohamed@imu.edu.my
Received: June 3, 2025 Revised: July 5, 2025 Accepted: November 7, 2025 Published online: November 27, 2025 Processing time: 180 Days and 23.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Gestational diabetes mellitus does not only affect maternal glucose metabolism, but it can also program lifelong metabolic vulnerabilities in the offspring. This article emphasizes the underappreciated role of the maternal liver as a metabolic sensor that detects pregnancy-related physiological stress and modulates systemic signals accordingly. When impaired by gestational diabetes mellitus, the maternal liver becomes a source of maladaptive endocrine, inflammatory, and metabolic cues that are transmitted to the fetus. These signals can reprogram fetal liver development and increase the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in later life. Recognizing the liver’s central role in this process opens new avenues for preventive and therapeutic strategies targeting both maternal and offspring health.
