To clarify the effect of retinoid X receptor-α/γ (RXR-α/γ) genes functional genetic variants (RXR-α rs4842194 G>A, RXR-γ rs100537 A>G and rs2134095 T>C) on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a case–control study with 573 GDM patients and 740 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance was performed in Guangxi area of China. Here, RXRA is linked to gestational diabetes.