The Association of Thyroid Function With Maternal and Neonatal Homocysteine Concentrations

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Neonatology

Background:

• Elevated homocysteine levels during pregnancy are linked to complications like low birth weight and neonatal issues.
• Thyroid hormones may influence homocysteine metabolism through folate and vitamin B12 pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal and neonatal thyroid function and homocysteine levels.
• To explore the role of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) in homocysteine regulation during pregnancy and postpartum.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the population-based prospective Generation R study.
• Measurement of TSH, FT4, homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in 1094 mothers and 4475 neonates.
• Application of multiple linear regression models to determine associations.

Main Results:

• Neonatal: Positive association between FT4 and homocysteine; inverse association between TSH and homocysteine, which attenuated after adjusting for folate and vitamin B12.
• Maternal: Positive association between FT4 and homocysteine, with no significant association found between FT4 and folate or vitamin B12 levels.
• Overall: Higher thyroid function correlated with higher homocysteine in both mothers and neonates.

Conclusions:

• Increased thyroid function is associated with elevated homocysteine concentrations in pregnant women and neonates.
• Findings suggest thyroid hormone influences folate- and vitamin B12-dependent metabolic processes crucial for early development.