Download Neonatal TSH concentrations are positively correlated with insulin

Neonatal TSH concentrations are positively correlated with insulin resistance and height
z-scores at 5 years of age in male, but not female, children
Huynh D1, Gibson R1,2, Makrides M1,2,3, Zhou SJ1, Muhlhausler BS1,2
1
FOODplus Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, SA
5005
2
Healthy Mothers, Babies and Children Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
(SAHMRI), SA 5001
3
Discipline of Paediatrics, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005
Background: Adult studies have identified significant inverse relationships between thyroid
function, as determined by circulating thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid stimulating hormone
(TSH) levels, and body weight, body fat mass and body mass index (BMI), but whether thyroid
status in infancy is related to these same measures later in childhood is unknown.
Objective: To assess relationships between TSH status in the early neonatal period and
markers of metabolic health, including body mass index (BMI), body fat mass and insulin
sensitivity, in children at 5 years of age.
Methods: The study utilised samples and anthropometric data collected from children who
were participating in the 3 and 5-year follow-up of the DOMInO randomised controlled trial
(Muhlhausler et al, AJCN, 2016). Neonatal TSH levels were obtained from the neonatal
screening database and TSH and Tg were measured in plasma samples collected at the 5-year
clinic appointment.
Results: TSH concentrations in the early neonatal period were directly related to both TSH
(R=0.39, P=0.008) and Tg (R=0.32, P=0.03) concentrations at 5 years of age in male, but not
female, children. Neonatal TSH levels were also positively related to the insulin resistance
index (R=0.29, P<0.05) and inversely related to height/height z-score (R=-0.33, P=0.025) at 5
years of age in males, and these relationships persisted after adjustment for TSH/Tg levels at 5
years of age. There were no significant correlations between neonatal TSH levels and fasting
glucose or insulin concentrations, BMI or body fat mass in early childhood in females or when
the data from male and female children were combined.
Conclusion: The results of this study raise the possibility that neonatal TSH may be related to
subsequent height and insulin sensitivity in male children, although this does not appear to be
the case in females. Further studies are required to further investigate the potential for perinatal
thyroid status to influence future metabolic health outcomes.