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Early-life thyroid hormones and neurodevelopmental assessment in one-year old children: DSAN-12m birth cohort study
Nathália Ribeiro Dos Santos1, Homègnon Antonin Ferréol Bah2, Erival Amorim Gomes Júnior3
1Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil; Graduate Program in Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil.
Insights
Maternal and infant thyroid hormones impact child neurodevelopment. Higher infant FT4 improved motor skills, especially in boys, while maternal TT3 and TSH related to language development.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Maternal thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy is linked to adverse infant neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Understanding the maternal-infant thyroid hormone-neurodevelopment axis is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal and infant thyroid hormones and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- To explore gender-specific associations in a Brazilian birth cohort.
Main Methods:
- Assessed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and total triiodothyronine (TT3) in 66 mother-infant pairs.
- Used Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (BSID-III) for neurodevelopmental assessment.
- Collected samples during the second trimester of pregnancy and infant samples at 19 months.
Main Results:
- Most children (79.4%) had low FT4 levels.
- Higher infant FT4 correlated with better motor skills, particularly in boys.
- Maternal TT3 positively associated with language development; TSH negatively associated with language. Non-linear TSH association with motor skills observed in all children.
Conclusions:
- Thyroid hormone levels in mothers and infants play a complex role in infant neurodevelopment.
- Findings highlight the importance of maternal and infant thyroid health for optimal neurodevelopment.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate these intricate relationships.
Background:
Maternal thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy has been implicated in adverse infant neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Objective:
This study investigates the complex interplay between maternal and children's thyroid hormones and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children of the DSAN-12m birth cohort in the Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil.
Methods:
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and total triiodothyronine (TT3) levels were measured in serum samples collected during the second trimester of pregnancy and infants at 19 months old. Neurodevelopmental assessment was conducted using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (BSID-III). A total of 66 mother-infant pairs were evaluated.
Results:
In general, thyroid hormones were within the reference range for both mothers and infants. However, 79.4 % of children had low FT4 levels. Higher FT4 levels in children were significantly associated with enhanced motor skills, particularly among boys, underlining the gender-specific associations. In pregnant women, TT3 levels were positively associated with language development, while TSH concentrations were negatively associated with the language domain. A non-linear association was observed, indicating better motor development scores with increasing TSH levels, within reference range, in all children. No associations were observed between thyroid hormones and BSID-III scores in girls.
Conclusions:
This study elucidates the multifaceted relationship between maternal and infant thyroid function, and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of thyroid health during pregnancy and infancy, highlighting the need for further research to better understand this relationship.
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