Associations between women's childhood maltreatment and thyroid function before and during pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Psychoneuroendocrinology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Maternal childhood maltreatment is linked to adverse pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• Thyroid dysfunction is a potential mechanistic pathway connecting maltreatment to these outcomes.
• The thyroid's role in female reproductive health is critical, yet its function post-maltreatment remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between childhood maltreatment and thyroid function in women contemplating pregnancy and those who are pregnant.
• To explore thyroid dysfunction as a potential mediator between childhood maltreatment and reproductive health.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Nurses' Health Study 3, including 217 women contemplating pregnancy and 156 pregnant women.
• Assessed childhood maltreatment using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.
• Measured plasma thyroid function markers: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb).
• Performed regression analyses to determine associations.

Main Results:

• Among women contemplating pregnancy, childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with lower free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels (5-7% reduction).
• No significant associations were found between childhood maltreatment and FT4, TSH, or TPOAb levels in women contemplating pregnancy.
• No significant associations were observed between childhood maltreatment and any thyroid function markers among pregnant women.

Conclusions:

• Childhood maltreatment is associated with altered thyroid function, specifically lower FT3, in women before pregnancy.
• The observed association between maltreatment and thyroid function diminishes during pregnancy.
• Further research in diverse populations is warranted to confirm these findings and elucidate underlying mechanisms.