Association of Maternal TSH, FT4 With Children's BMI Trajectories, and Obesity: A Birth Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between maternal TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), and children's body mass index (BMI) trajectories and obesity.

Method: Based on the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort in China, we repeatedly assayed maternal thyroid functions in 3 trimesters of pregnancy. Children's height and weight were measured 15 times before they were age 6 years. Body fat was assessed when children were aged 6 years. Mplus software was used to fit maternal thyroid hormone trajectories and BMI trajectories. Multivariate logistic regression models and generalized linear models were used 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 odds ratio and 95% CI of 1.580 (1.169-2.135) and 1.505 (1.064-2.129), respectively. Increased maternal FT4 concentrations in the first, second, and third trimesters were associated with a decreased risk of high children's BMI trajectories and obesity. There was a positive association between low maternal FT4 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 to overweight and high body fat ratio in 6-year-old children. 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.

Keywords: BMI; FT4; TSH; body fat ratio; obesity; trajectories.