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Subclinical prenatal iodine deficiency negatively affects infant development in Northern China
Naseem Choudhury1, Kathleen S Gorman
1Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. naseem@axon.rutgers.edu
Insights
Subclinical prenatal iodine deficiency, indicated by elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), negatively impacts infant cognitive development. Maternal education may help mitigate these effects.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- Mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency (ID) is linked to cognitive deficits in children.
- Limited data exists on subclinical prenatal ID's impact on infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between elevated cord blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and infant development in Northern China.
- To explore the influence of socioenvironmental factors on iodine status and infant outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Compared three groups of infants with elevated cord blood TSH to a control group with normal TSH.
- Assessed infant development using an information processing task at 7 months and cognitive/motor assessments at 13 months.
- Analyzed socioenvironmental factors, maternal education, and iodine status.
Main Results:
- Infants with elevated TSH demonstrated poorer information processing skills and lower cognitive development index scores.
- No significant differences were observed in motor abilities between groups.
- Higher TSH levels correlated with rural settings, lower maternal education, and lower-paying occupations.
Conclusions:
- Subclinical prenatal iodine deficiency adversely affects infant cognitive development.
- Maternal education may serve as a protective factor, potentially ameliorating the negative effects of prenatal ID on cognitive performance.
Abstract:
Although mild-to-moderate levels of iodine deficiency (ID) have been associated with poor cognitive outcomes in children, little is known about subclinical prenatal ID and infant development. In this study, the association between elevated cord blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) and infant development was examined in Northern China. Three groups of infants with elevated cord blood TSH were compared with infants with normal TSH levels on an information processing task at 7 mo, and in cognitive and motor developmental assessments at 13 mo. Infants with elevated TSH had poorer information processing skills and lower scores on the cognitive development index. There were no differences in motor abilities. Relationships between socioenvironmental factors and iodine status were assessed. Infants from more rural settings and those whose mothers had completed fewer years of schooling and had lower paying occupations had higher cord blood TSH levels. A regression analysis indicated that maternal education was predictive of cognitive performance among infants with elevated TSH but not control infants. The findings suggest that subclinical prenatal ID has negative effects on infant development and that, in some instances, maternal education may ameliorate these effects.
