Maternal Thyroid Antibodies Associates With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children at the Age of 16

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Nov 1;102(11):4184-4190. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-01137.

Abstract

Context and objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of maternal thyroid dysfunction or antibodies during pregnancy on the cardiometabolic risk factors in children.

Design, setting, and participants: This prospective population-based cohort study, Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986, included all pregnancies within a year in the area. Maternal serum samples were collected before the 20th week of gestation and analyzed for thyrotropin, free T4, thyroid-peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Abs), and thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Abs). Cardiometabolic risk factors in children at the age of 16 years were evaluated via blood sampling and clinical examination. Data were available for 3229 to 4176 mother-child pairs.

Main outcome measures: Waist circumference, blood pressure, lipids and lipoproteins, and insulin resistance were measured. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of cardiometabolic risk factors in children with and without mothers with thyroid dysfunction or antibodies were calculated with logistic regression and adjusted for covariates.

Results: Children of TPO-Ab-positive mothers had higher odds of metabolic syndrome (OR, 2.57; 95%, CI 1.26 to 5.25) and waist circumference indicative of metabolic syndrome (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.50). They were also more likely to be overweight or obese (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.34). Maternal thyroid dysfunction or Tg-Ab positivity did not associate with cardiometabolic risk factors in children.

Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome, greater waist circumference, and higher body mass index were more prevalent in children of TPO-Ab-positive mothers, indicating an adverse cardiovascular health profile.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodide Peroxidase / immunology
  • Iron-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / etiology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / blood*
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / metabolism
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / physiopathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Thyroid Diseases / blood*
  • Thyroid Diseases / epidemiology
  • Thyroid Diseases / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • Iron-Binding Proteins
  • anti-thyroglobulin
  • thyroid microsomal antibodies
  • TPO protein, human
  • Iodide Peroxidase