Introduction: It remains unclear to what extent intrinsic maternal characteristics, lifestyle or diet and dietary supplements contribute to explain the variability of maternal thyroid function. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of age, parity, pregestational body mass index (BMI), beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), thyroid autoantibodies, smoking habit and use of vitamins/supplements on maternal thyroid function variability throughout pregnancy. Methods:A prospective, observational study was carried out including 339 healthy pregnant women from their first to their third trimester. Clinical and biological variables were registered at each stage. Univariate correlation and multiple linear regression analysis for thyroid parameters were performed in the three trimesters.Results: Thyrotropin (TSH) in the first trimester (1T) was dependent on free thyroxine (FT4), maternal age, β-hCG and smoking habit. FT4 levels in the 1T were significantly lower in obese women (0.937±0.078ng/dl), compared with overweighed (0.981±0.14ng/dl) and normal weight women (0.989± 0.98ng/dl) (p=0.012). Multiple linear regression showed that FT4 in all trimesters is significantly dependent on pregestational BMI. Additionally, TSH and FT4 in the 1T were significantly related to TSH and FT4 levels in second and third trimesters, respectively. All studied factors influenced TSH with different degree all-over the pregnancy. Dietary supplements did not modify maternal thyroid function. Conclusion:FT4 availability during the first half of the gestation can be hindered by maternal overweight/obesity. Beside age, obesity and smoking, TSH and FT4 in the 1T are very important regarding thyroid function variability in further stages of the pregnancy.
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