The association between fetal sex and maternal insulin resistance and β‑cell functions during pregnancy has not yet been fully elucidated. The present study thus aimed to investigate this association among non‑diabetic pregnant women. For this purpose, a cross‑sectional study was conducted between February to October, 2022. Pregnant women between the 24 and 28th week of gestation were enrolled in the present study; glucose tolerance tests were performed and indices of insulin resistance and β‑cell function were examined. The results revealed that out of the 113 pregnant women included in the study, 55 gave birth to boys and 58 delivered girls. The mean (standard deviation) for age and body mass index in all the participants were 27.6 (5.6) years, and 27.1 (5.6) kg/m², respectively. There was no significant difference between the mean (standard deviation) for age [28.1 (5.4) vs. 27.1 (5.7) years; P=0.318] and body mass index [26.8 (4.9) vs. 27.3 (6.2) kg/m²; P=0.638] of mothers who gave birth to boys and those who delivered girls, respectively. The median (interquartile range) of fasting insulin levels [7.31 (3.49‑14.6 vs. 7.31 (3.73‑14.6) µU/ml; P=0.858] and indices of homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance [19.78 (11.73‑38.7) vs. 21.7 (10.0‑42.1), P=0.692] and homeostatic model assessment for β‑cell function [2.1 (1.09‑4.03) vs. 2.1 (1.06‑4.39), P=0.993] were comparable between the mothers bearing boys and those bearing girls. No significant difference was observed in the mean (standard deviation) of fasting glucose levels between the two groups [71.0 (13.1) vs. 68.2 (9.9) mg/dl; P=0.207]. On the whole, the present study found that fetal sex was not associated with maternal insulin resistance. However, further studies are required to confirm these findings.

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