The Spearman’s correlation in women with GDM showed that LDL-C levels were positively correlated with apoB, TC, non-HDL-C, apoB/apoA1 ratios, HDL-C, AI, MDA, and apoA1 levels (r = 0.833, 0.807, 0.777, 0.583, 0.437, 0.296, 0.154, and 0.149, respectively; P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with TG/HDL-C ratios, pre-pregnancy BMI, OGTT-fasting glucose concentrations, and delivery BMI (r = − 0.267, − 0.147, − 0.144, and − 0.121, respectively; P < 0.01). This evidence concerns the gene APOA1 and gestational diabetes.