title: Maternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy, childhood adiposity and cardiovascular risk factors: the Generation R Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Variation in maternal thyroid function during early pregnancy may permanently affect childhood growth and cardiovascular development. We examined the associations of early pregnancy maternal TSH and free T4 (FT4) levels with childhood growth, body composition and cardiovascular characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a population-based prospective cohort study among 5646 mothers and their children. Maternal thyroid parameters were assessed in early pregnancy (median: 13·2 weeks; 95% range: 9·7-17·6 weeks). Childhood growth was repeatedly measured from birth to 6 years. At the age of 6 years, childhood body mass index (BMI), total body and abdominal fat distribution, blood pressure and left ventricular mass were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal thyroid parameters were not consistently associated with childhood length and weight growth characteristics. Lower maternal TSH levels were associated with lower childhood BMI, total fat mass, abdominal subcutaneous fat mass area and diastolic blood pressure (P-values <0·05), but not with preperitoneal abdominal fat mass area, systolic blood pressure or left ventricular mass. Higher maternal FT4 levels were associated with lower childhood BMI, abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat mass area (P for trends <0·05), but not with other cardiovascular characteristics. Clinically maternal hypothyroid or hyperthyroid statuses were not associated with childhood growth, body fat or cardiovascular outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal thyroid function during early pregnancy may influence childhood body composition and cardiovascular development. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings and to examine the influence of maternal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy on long-term growth and cardiovascular development in the offspring.
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Guilherme A F
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.forename: Tim I M
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Korevaar
authors.forename: Robin P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Yolanda B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: de Rijke
authors.forename: Jacoba J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bongers-Schokking
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tiemeier
authors.forename: Vincent W V
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Jaddoe
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaillard
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine