AUTHOR=Liu Zhao-min , Li Guoyi , Wu Yi , Zhang Di , Zhang Sujuan , Hao Yuan-Tao , Chen Weiqing , Huang Qi , Li Shuyi , Xie Yaojie , Ye Mingtong , He Chun , Chen Ping , Pan Wenjing TITLE=Increased Central and Peripheral Thyroid Resistance Indices During the First Half of Gestation Were Associated With Lowered Risk of Gestational Diabetes—Analyses Based on Huizhou Birth Cohort in South China JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.806256 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2022.806256 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=Objectives

The study aimed to explore the relationship of thyroid function and resistance indices with subsequent risk of gestational diabetes (GDM).

Design

This was a longitudinal study embedded in the Huizhou Birth Cohort.

Methods

A total of 2,927 women of singleton pregnancy were recruited from January to October of 2019. Thyroid central resistance indices were evaluated by Thyroid Feedback Quartile-Based index (TFQI), Thyrotrophy T4 Resistance Index (TT4RI), and TSH Index (TSHI) based on plasma-free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels during the first half of pregnancy. Thyroid peripheral sensitivity was assessed by free triiodothyronine (FT3) to FT4 ratio (FT3/FT4), a proxy of deiodinase activity. GDM was diagnosed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation by a standardized 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Multivariable linear and logistic regression was applied to examine the associations of thyroid markers with GDM risk.

Results

FT3 and FT3/FT4 were positively associated with both fasting and post-load glucose levels, while TSH, TSHI, TT4RI, and TFQI were negatively associated with 1 and 2 h post-load glucose levels. Compared with the lowest quartile, GDM risk in the highest quartile increased by 44% [odds ratio (OR) = 1.44; 95%CI, 1.08–1.92; ptrend = 0.027] for FT3 and 81% (OR = 1.81; 95%CI, 1.33–2.46; ptrend < 0.001) for FT3/FT4, while it lowered by 37% (OR = 0.63; 95%CI, 0.47–0.86; ptrend = 0.002] for TSHI, 28% for TT4RI (OR = 0.72; 95%CI, 0.54–0.97; ptrend = 0.06), and 37% for TFQI (OR = 0.63; 95%CI, 0.46–0.85; ptrend < 0.001).

Conclusions

This longitudinal study indicated that higher FT3 and FT3/FT4 and lower central thyroid resistance indices were associated with increased risk of GDM.