Context
Maternal thyroid hormone trajectories are better predictor of offspring’s neurodevelopment than hormone levels in single trimester of pregnancy. Programming effect of uterine hormonal environment on offspring’s health is usually sex-specific.
Objective
To examine the sex-specific effect of thyroid hormone trajectories on preschoolers’ behavioral development.
Design
Based on Ma’ anshan Birth Cohort (MABC) in China, pregnant women were recruited at their first antenatal checkup from May 2013 to September 2014.
Setting
Ma’ anshan Maternal and Child Health Hospital in China.
Patients or Other Participants
1860 mother-child pairs were included in the analysis. Children were followed up at age of 4.
Main Outcome Measures
Maternal thyroid hormones (TSH, FT4) and TPOAb in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy were retrospectively assayed. Preschoolers’ behavioral development was assessed by Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/1.5~5).
Results
Maternal TSH and FT4 levels were respectively fitted into high, moderate and low trajectories. In boys, maternal high TSH trajectory was related to withdrawn (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.16, 3.50) and externalizing problems (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.22, 5.92), and moderate TSH trajectory was associated with aggressive behavior (OR = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.16, 12.23). Maternal high FT4 trajectory was associated with anxious/depressed (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.08, 4.56) and total problems (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.66), and low FT4 trajectory was associated with aggressive behavior (OR = 4.17, 95% CI: 1.22, 14.24).
Conclusions
Maternal thyroid hormone trajectories impact preschool boys’ behavioral development.
Objective
To investigate the association between maternal TSH, FT4 and children's BMI trajectories and obesity.
Method
Based on the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort in China, we repeatedly assayed maternal thyroid functions in three trimesters of pregnancy. Children's height and weight were measured 15 times before six years old. Body fat was assessed when children aged 6. Mplus software was used to fit maternal thyroid hormone trajectories and BMI trajectories. Multivariate logistic regression models and generalized linear models were adopted in data analysis.
Results
Low maternal FT4 trajectory was observed to be related to an increased risk of a high children’s BMI trajectory and overweight, with an OR and 95% CI of 1.580 (1.169, 2.135) and 1.505 (1.064, 2.129). Increased maternal FT4 concentrations in the first trimester, second and third trimesters were associated with a decreased risk of high children’s BMI trajectories and obesity.
There was a positive association between maternal FT4 low trajectory and 6-year-old children’s body fat ratio with β and 95% CI of 0.983 (0.138, 1.829). Furthermore, negative correlations between maternal FT4 concentration in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy and body fat ratio were observed.
Conclusions
Low maternal FT4 trajectory during pregnancy may predict a high BMI trajectory in children and relate with overweight and high body fat ratio in 6-year-olds. High maternal FT4 concentrations throughout pregnancy may be associated with the decreasing risk of obesity and low body fat ratio in 6-year-old children.
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