Periconceptual and prenatal alcohol consumption and neurodevelopment at age two and five years

A study examined the association between alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring at two and five years.
Data on pre-conception and prenatal alcohol consumption were obtained at 15 weeks’ gestation and categorised as abstinent, occasional-low (1-7units/week) and moderate-heavy (≥8units/week). Binge drinking was defined as ≥6 units/session. Outcome measures (Child Behaviour Checklist and Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test) were obtained at two and five years.
Data on alcohol consumption was available for 1,507 women and the study results suggested few associations: pre-pregnancy occasional-low alcohol consumption was associated with lower log externalizing Child Behaviour Checklist scores (-0.264), while pre-pregnancy moderate-high levels of alcohol consumption was associated with lower Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test verbal standard scores (-0.034) and composite IQ scores (-0.028) at five-years. In the first trimester, moderate-high levels of alcohol consumption was associated with lower internalizing Child Behav-iour Checklist scores at two-years (-0.252, 95% CI: -0.074, -0.430). No significant associations were observed between number of binge episodes pre-pregnancy or binge drinking in the first trimester and Child Behaviour Checklist or Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test.
The researchers did not find strong evidence of associations between pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy maternal alcohol consumption and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at age two and five years overall. Further research examining alcohol consumption (including binge drinking) beyond 15 weeks’ gestation and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes is needed to examine the potential effect of alcohol consumption in later pregnancy, they suggest.
Source: Periconceptual and prenatal alcohol consumption and neurodevelopment at age two and five years. Maher, Gillian M. et al. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Re-productive Biology, Volume 274, 197 – 203.