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Maternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy, childhood adiposity and cardiovascular risk factors: the Generation R
Guilherme A F Godoy1, Tim I M Korevaar, Robin P Peeters
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Insights
Maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy impacts child development. Lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and higher free thyroxine (FT4) were linked to lower childhood BMI and fat mass, but not all cardiovascular measures.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Development
Background:
- Maternal thyroid hormones are crucial for fetal development.
- Early pregnancy thyroid function may influence long-term child health outcomes.
- Associations between maternal thyroid status and offspring growth/cardiovascular health require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels in early pregnancy.
- To assess the impact of maternal thyroid function on childhood growth, body composition, and cardiovascular characteristics up to age 6.
Main Methods:
- Population-based prospective cohort study of 5646 mother-child pairs.
- Maternal thyroid parameters measured in early pregnancy (median 13.2 weeks).
- Childhood growth assessed from birth to 6 years; body composition, blood pressure, and cardiac measures at age 6.
Main Results:
- Maternal TSH and FT4 levels were not consistently linked to childhood length or weight growth.
- Lower maternal TSH associated with lower childhood BMI, total fat mass, abdominal subcutaneous fat, and diastolic blood pressure.
- Higher maternal FT4 associated with lower childhood BMI, abdominal subcutaneous, and preperitoneal fat mass.
- No significant associations found for maternal hypothyroid or hyperthyroid status with childhood outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy may influence offspring body composition and cardiovascular development.
- Specific maternal TSH and FT4 levels show associations with childhood adiposity and blood pressure.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore long-term effects.
Objective:
Variation in maternal thyroid function during early pregnancy may permanently affect childhood growth and cardiovascular development. We examined the associations of early pregnancy maternal TSH and free T4 (FT4) levels with childhood growth, body composition and cardiovascular characteristics.
Methods:
We performed a population-based prospective cohort study among 5646 mothers and their children. Maternal thyroid parameters were assessed in early pregnancy (median: 13·2 weeks; 95% range: 9·7-17·6 weeks). Childhood growth was repeatedly measured from birth to 6 years. At the age of 6 years, childhood body mass index (BMI), total body and abdominal fat distribution, blood pressure and left ventricular mass were measured.
Results:
Maternal thyroid parameters were not consistently associated with childhood length and weight growth characteristics. Lower maternal TSH levels were associated with lower childhood BMI, total fat mass, abdominal subcutaneous fat mass area and diastolic blood pressure (P-values <0·05), but not with preperitoneal abdominal fat mass area, systolic blood pressure or left ventricular mass. Higher maternal FT4 levels were associated with lower childhood BMI, abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat mass area (P for trends <0·05), but not with other cardiovascular characteristics. Clinically maternal hypothyroid or hyperthyroid statuses were not associated with childhood growth, body fat or cardiovascular outcomes.
Conclusions:
Maternal thyroid function during early pregnancy may influence childhood body composition and cardiovascular development. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings and to examine the influence of maternal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy on long-term growth and cardiovascular development in the offspring.
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