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Type of fish consumed and thyroid autoimmunity in pregnancy and postpartum

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Abstract

Fish consumption or supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids was reported to cure and/or prevent autoimmune and nonautoimmune disorders. Serum positivity for thyroid autoantibodies is a predictive marker of postpartum thyroiditis and postpartum depression. We hypothesized that stable consumption of the omega-3-rich oily fish was associated with a more favorable profile of serum thyroid antibodies throughout pregnancy and early postpartum compared with stable consumption of swordfish, a predator that concentrates pollutants. We prospectively measured serum thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroperoxidase antibodies in pregnancy (first, second trimesters) and postpartum (day 4), in 236 thyroid disease-free, nonsmoker Caucasian women with stable dietary habits. We did not measure thyroid autoantibodies prior to pregnancy. Women were divided into groups A (n = 48; swordfish), B (n = 52; oily fish), C (n = 68; swordfish + other fish, not necessarily oily fish), and D (n = 68; fish other than swordfish and oily fish). Major endpoints were positivity rates and serum concentrations of the two autoantibodies. We resorted to previous studies for the estimated content of fatty acids and microelements in the consumed fish. Positivity rates and serum concentrations of both antibodies were the greatest in group A and the lowest in group B (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 to < 0.001, respectively). Relationship between monthly fish consumption and serum concentrations of either antibody was direct in group A but inverse in group B. The estimated content of omega-3 fatty acids in fish consumed by group B was the greatest (P < 0.001 vs. any other group). These data reinforce recommendations that pregnant women should avoid consuming swordfish and indicate consumption of oily fish as a favorable alternative. Because thyroid autoantibodies are markers of autoimmune-related postpartum problems, our data suggest a dietary prophylaxis of such problems.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Luigi Manasseri, physiologist and nutritionist at the University of Messina, for having reviewed the seafood consumption analysis and calculations about the selenium and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the portions of seafood consumed. We thank Dr. Teresa Romeo, Ph.D., of ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Laboratory of Milazzo, Sicily), for useful information on the content of heavy metals in local fish. We also thank the following obstetricians/gynecologists and family physicians for help in carrying out this study: Professor Domenico Granese, former Director of the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the School of Midwifery at our University Hospital, and Professor Rosario D’Anna who replaced him as the Director of the School of Midwifery, are gratefully acknowledged for their collaboration. Dr. Silvia Russo, Midwives, and Nurses, particularly Drs. Rita Laccoto and Franco Previte, are also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina School of Medicine, Viale Gazzi, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Salvatore Benvenga, Maria Teresa Vigo & Roberto Vita

  2. Master Program on Childhood, Adolescent and Women’s Endocrine Health, University of Messina School of Medicine, Messina, Italy

    Salvatore Benvenga

  3. Interdepartmental Program of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology & Women’s Endocrine Health, University Hospital Policlinico G. Martino, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Salvatore Benvenga

  4. Department of Biomedical & Morphological and Functional Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Gazzi, Padiglione H, 4 piano, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Daniela Metro

  5. Department of Pediatric, Gynecology, Microbiology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina School of Medicine, Viale Gazzi, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Roberta Granese & Maria Le Donne

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  1. Salvatore Benvenga
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  2. Maria Teresa Vigo
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Correspondence to Roberto Vita.

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Conflict of interest

This work was partly supported by a grant from the Regional Department of Health (Assessorato Regionale alla Sanità, Programma per lo sviluppo del Servizio Sanitario Regionale, bando 2007).

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Benvenga, S., Vigo, M.T., Metro, D. et al. Type of fish consumed and thyroid autoimmunity in pregnancy and postpartum. Endocrine 52, 120–129 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-015-0698-3

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