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Childhood thyroid function, body composition and cardiovascular function

Mirjana Barjaktarovic1,2,3, Tim I M Korevaar1,2,3, Romy Gaillard1,4

  • 1The Generation R Study Group.

European Journal of Endocrinology
|July 21, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Thyroid hormone levels in 6-year-olds impact cardiovascular health. Higher free thyroxine (FT4) is linked to lower left ventricular mass and increased arterial stiffness, potentially raising blood pressure.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Thyroid hormone significantly influences the cardiovascular system.
  • Early-life cardiovascular changes can increase adult cardiovascular disease risk.
  • The impact of thyroid hormone on childhood cardiovascular function, especially concerning body composition, is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between thyroid function (TSH and FT4) and cardiovascular parameters in early childhood.
  • To explore the role of body composition in mediating these associations.
  • To elucidate the distinct mechanisms of TSH and FT4 on cardiovascular function during childhood.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based prospective cohort study of 4251 children (median age 6 years).
  • Thyroid function assessed via TSH and FT4 measurements.
  • Cardiovascular assessment included echocardiography for left ventricular (LV) mass, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) for arterial stiffness, and blood pressure (BP) measurement.
  • Body composition analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Main Results:

  • Higher FT4 was inversely associated with LV mass and lean body mass, with 55% mediation through lean mass.
  • TSH showed an inverse association with LV mass, particularly in boys, and a positive association with systolic and diastolic BP.
  • FT4 correlated positively with CFPWV and diastolic BP, though the latter attenuated after adjusting for CFPWV.

Conclusions:

  • At age 6, elevated FT4 is linked to reduced LV mass (partly via lean body mass) and increased arterial stiffness, potentially contributing to higher BP.
  • Distinct pathways appear to mediate the cardiovascular effects of TSH and FT4 in early childhood.
Abstract

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