Polycystic ovary syndrome and intrauterine programming of child body composition, physical activity, strength, and autism spectrum disorder

PhD-student
Camilla Viola Palm
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Project management

Project status	Open



Data collection dates
Start	01.09.2021
End	01.05.2025

Project in numbers

OPEN survey/clinical data
Expected # of participants	1,520
Included # of participants





Included participants with specimens
Specimens

Polycystic ovary syndrome and intrauterine programming of child body composition, physical activity, strength, and autism spectrum disorder

Short summary

PCOS is the most prevalent endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. Testosterone levels are higher in pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to pregnant women without PCOS. Little is known about maternal PCOS, high testosterone levels and developmental outcomes in children, with a focus on sex differences.

Rationale

Maternal free testosterone (FT) levels increase during 3rd trimester. Higher prenatal androgen exposure has been linked to reduced birth weight and increased catch-up in boys, as well as lower handgrip strength in 5-year-old boys and girls. However, there are no human studies on prenatal testosterone exposure and objectively measured physical activity. The "extreme male brain theory" suggests that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be linked to higher fetal testosterone exposure. The purpose of this PhD thesis was to examine prenatal testosterone exposure on the following child outcomes, in a cohort of women with and without PCOS: I. Birth anthropometrics. II. Body composition at 7 years of age. III. Physical activity engagement and isometric muscle strength at 7 years of age. IV. ASD traits at age 3 years.

Description of the cohort

Data from the Odense Child Cohort (OCC) was used. OCC is a prospective population-based mother-child cohort comprising 2,874 mothers recruited from Odense Municipality between January 2010 and December 2012. Information on PCOS status was self-reported via questionnaires. FT was calculated from total testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin measured in gestational weeks 28-30. At birth, anthropometrics including birth weight, length, and abdominal- and head circumferences were collected. Body composition assessments were performed in 7-year-old children using whole-body dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometrics. Furthermore, at 7 years, physical activity engagement was assessed using 24-hour/7-day accelerometers, and isometric muscle strength was measured by maximal voluntary contraction of the abdomen. At 3 years of age, ASD traits were assessed with the ASD-symptom scale of the Child Behaviour Checklist for ages 1½-5 years.