Maternal hypothyroidism and subsequent metabolic outcomes in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Introduction As the fetus relies on maternal thyroid hormones in early pregnancy, maternal hypothyroidism plays an important role in fetal development. However, the association between maternal hypothyroidism and metabolic disease in offspring is unclear. Objective To examine the association between maternal hypothyroidism in pregnancy and metabolic outcomes (obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia) in children 1 million children. The follow-up time ranged from 6 to 20 years. Included studies support an increased risk of hypertension and glucose dysregulation in offspring exposed to maternal hypothyroidism (hypertension: OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.75, 1.57 and HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.21, 2.69; diabetes: RR 2.7, 95% CI 0.7, 10). In the pooled analysis, maternal hypothyroidism was not associated with obesity in offspring (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.64, 1.70). Conclusion This study found inconsistent evidence on the association between maternal hypothyroidism in pregnancy and metabolic outcomes in offspring, though associations with hypertension and glucose dysregulation are possible.

Keywords

• Hypothyroidism
• Pregnancy
• Metabolic outcomes
• Offspring
• Systematic review