Low thyroid level during pregnancy can put kids at risk of schizophrenia

Babies born to women with low levels of a thyroid hormone during pregnancy may be at an increased risk of being affected by neurodevelopmental disorder, finds a new study.

By: Agencies | | Published: June 23, 2016 10:07 am

Babies born to women with low levels of a thyroid hormone during pregnancy may be at an increased risk of being affected by neurodevelopmental disorder, finds a new study. Low maternal free thyroid hormone (fT4) concentrations leads to hypothyroxinemia — a common condition in pregnant women. Children of mothers with hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy have increased odds of developing abnormalities in cognitive development similar to those in schizophrenia — a neurodevelopmental disorder, the study said. The association remained even after adjusting for variables strongly related to schizophrenia such as maternal psychiatric history and smoking. Hypothyroxinemia is also associated with preterm birth, a risk factor for schizophrenia. ‘The study suggests that maternal influences, both environmental and genetic, contribute to the risk of schizophrenia,’ said lead author David Gyllenberg from the University of Turku in Finland. (Read: 5 symptoms of schizophrenia that you should know)

Although the study did not address the cause of this association, it found that adjusting for preterm birth lessened the association between hypothyroxinemia and schizophrenia, suggesting that preterm birth may mediate some of the increased risk, the authors noted in the paper published in Biological Psychiatry. ‘This study identifies a preventable potential contributor to the risk for schizophrenia. Maternal hypothyroidism can be easily diagnosed and effectively treated,’ stated John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry. To determine if hypothyroxinemia is associated with schizophrenia, the team examined thyroxine levels in archived serum samples from 1010 mothers of children with schizophrenia and 1010 matched control mothers. The findings showed that 11.8 per cent of people with schizophrenia had a mother with hypothyroxinemia, compared with 8.6 per cent of people without schizophrenia. (Read: Study says smoking during pregnancy can put your baby at risk of mental disorders)

Source: IANS

Photo source: Getty images (Image for representational purpose only)

Published: June 23, 2016 10:07 am

Disclaimer: TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any specific results as a result of the procedures mentioned here and the results may vary from person to person. The topics in these pages including text, graphics, videos and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice.

Family of youth alleges private hospital of medical negligence, says doctors operated on the wrong leg

Give a missed call to 011-22901701 for information on diabetes prevention and management

About The health Site

Useful Links