CORD SERUM THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH) AND THYROGLOBULIN (Tg) LEVELS DECLINE WITH INCREASING BIRTH WEIGHT IN NORMAL FEMALE NEWBORNS

Abstract

Tg, TSH and T₄ were determined in cord serum and related to birth weight and sex in normal newborns, 20 females and 19 males. Mean ± SD birth weight of female infants (3299 ± 282 grams) was significantly (p <0.005) less than that of male infants (3757 ± 447 grams). Whereas, mean gestational age of female infants did not differ from that of male infants (40.1 ± 0.5 vs 40.1 ± 0.7 weeks). Mean Tg levels of female infants (31.1 ± 8.9 ng/ml) was significantly (p <0.05) greater than that of male infants (26.1 ± 7.7 ng/ml). TSH (14.9 ± 11.3 vs 14.8 ± 13.4 μU/ml, p >0.1) and T₄ (11.1 ± 3.3 vs 11.7 ± 3.5 μg/dl, p >0.1) levels of female and male infants did not differ significantly. Further analysis indicated that Tg levels (r = −0.401, p <0.05) and the log of TSH levels (r = −0.576, p <0.005) correlated negatively with birth weight in female infants. Also, Tg levels correlated positively with the log of TSH levels (r = 0.401, p <0.05) in female infants. In contrast, none of these correlations were significant for male infants. We conclude that the sex difference in cord serum values and their correlations may be principally related to changes in body composition that accompany increasing birth weight.

Log in or create a free account to read this content

Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account

Continue with Google

Continue with ORCiD