Increased insulin sensitivity in intrauterine growth retarded newborns--do thyroid hormones play a role?
BACKGROUND
Thyroid hormones are necessary for normal brain development. We studied thyroid hormone profile and insulin sensitivity in intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) newborns to find correlation between insulin sensitivity and thyroid status in IUGR newborns.


METHODS
Fifty IUGR and fifty healthy control infants were studied at birth. Cord blood was collected for determination of T(3), T(4), TSH, glucose and insulin levels.


RESULTS
IUGR newborns had significantly lower insulin, mean+/-S.D., 5.25+/-2.81 vs. 11.02+/-1.85microU/ml, but significantly higher insulin sensitivity measured as glucose to insulin ratio (G/I), 9.80+/-2.91 vs. 6.93+/-1.08 compared to healthy newborns. TSH was also significantly higher 6.0+/-2.70 vs. 2.99+/-1.05microU/ml with significantly lower T(4), 8.65+/-1.95 vs. 9.77+/-2.18microg/dl, but similar T(3) levels, 100.8+/-24.36 vs. 101.45+/-23.45ng/dl. On stepwise linear regression analysis in IUGR infants, insulin sensitivity was found to have a significant negative association with T(4) and significant positive association with TSH.


CONCLUSIONS
Thyroid hormones may play a role in increased insulin sensitivity at birth in IUGR.
Setia
Sajita
S
Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research Pondicherry - 605 006, India.
Sridhar
M G
MG
Koner
B C
BC
Bobby
Zachariah
Z
Bhat
Vishnu
V
Chaturvedula
Lata
L
D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D012016:Reference Values; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013963:Thyroid Hormones