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Peripheral deiodinase activity: A potential explanation for the association between maternal weight and gestational
James E Haddow1,2, Geralyn Lambert-Messerlian1, Elizabeth Eklund1
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Medical Screening and Special Testing, Women and Infants Hospital/Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Background:
High maternal weight is known to associate with both low free thyroxine and gestational diabetes mellitus. We explore a deiodinase-related mechanism that may help explain these associations.
Methods:
Among 108 women receiving routine oral glucose tolerance testing for gestational diabetes mellitus, we collected biophysical data and measured free thyroxine and total triiodothyronine, using residual plasma samples.
Results:
Fasting triiodothyronine/free thyroxine ratio and triiodothyronine were higher among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (p = 0.02; p = 0.04). The triiodothyronine/free thyroxine ratio and triiodothyronine measurements at 2 h were associated with weight (r = 0.20, p = 0.04; r = 0.22, p = 0.02); free thyroxine showed a non-significant inverse weight relationship (r = -0.06, p = 0.55). Glucose at all four intervals was associated with triiodothyronine/free thyroxine ratios, and triiodothyronine at 2 h. In stepwise regression, triiodothyronine/free thyroxine ratio predicted glucose more strongly than did weight.
Conclusion:
These relationships may be explained by higher maternal weight inducing peripheral deiodinase activity, resulting in higher plasma glucose (via triiodothyronine stimulation) and thereby increasing gestational diabetes mellitus risk.
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