Maternal Thyroid Function in Pregnancy may Program Offspring Blood Pressure, but not Adiposity at 20 Years of Age

BACKGROUND: Experimental evidence exists indicating that maternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy may affect the metabolic set point and cardio-vascular function in the offspring. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between maternal thyroid function in week 30 of gestation and offspring adiposity and blood pressure at 20 years.

METHODS: The study was based on the follow up of a Danish birth cohort from 1988-89 (n= 965). A blood sample was drawn from the pregnant women in week 30 of gestation (N = 877). In 2008-2009 the offspring were followed up with self-reported anthropometrics (N=645) and a clinically measured blood pressure (N=425). Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the association between maternal thyroid function and offspring BMI, waist circumference and blood pressure.

RESULTS: Offspring of subclinical hypothyroid women had higher systolic blood pressure (adjusted difference = 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 0.2, 7.0 mmHg) and a tendency towards higher diastolic blood pressure (adjusted difference = 2.3, 95% confidence interval: -0.2, 4.9 mmHg) compared to offspring of euthyroid women. No association was found with offspring BMI and waist circumference.

CONCLUSION: Maternal thyroid function during 3rd trimester of pregnancy may affect long term blood pressure in the offspring.Pediatric Research (2016); doi:10.1038/pr.2016.56.