Dose–response effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on perinatal outcomes

A study by University of New Mexico researchers examined the effects of mild–moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and episodic binge drinking on perinatal outcomes.
The data were obtained from three prospective cohorts with a combined sample of 281 participants: 125 with PAE and 156 without PAE. Alcohol-related measures included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, timeline follow-back questionnaires (covering the periconceptional period, mid-gestation, and late gestation), and biomarkers. Absolute alcohol per day (AAD) and per drinking day (AADD), number of binge episodes, and maximum number of drinks in a 24-h period were estimated. Perinatal outcomes included gestational age and anthropometric measures
Among women with PAE, average alcohol consumption across the periconceptional period and pregnancy was 0.37 oz ± 0.74 AA/day (~5 drinks/week). After adjusting for tobacco co-exposure and sociodemographic characteristics, significant associations between all alcohol measures and gestational age at delivery were observed, including cumulative measures of Absolute alcohol per day (β = −0.58; 95% CI: −0.98; −0.17) and absolute alcohol per drinking day (β = −0.58; 95% CI: −0.90; −0.26) during pregnancy and the periconceptional period. A significant association between the maximum number of drinks in a 24-h period and birth length percentile (β = −0.70; 95% CI: −1.36; −0.04) was observed in the final model. PAE was associated with lower birth weight percentile in univariate analyses only.
The results of this study, published in Alcohol Clinical & Experimental Research, demonstrate a negative association between mild–moderate PAE and episodic binge drinking with gestational age at delivery and birth length percentile after controlling for other factors. Robust negative effects of PAE, including in the periconceptional period before pregnancy recognition, on duration of gestation highlight the need for primary prevention efforts aimed at PAE in persons of reproductive age.
Source: Bakhireva, L.N., Ma, X., Wiesel, A., Wohrer, F.E., DiDomenico, J., Jacobson, S.W. et al. (2024) Dose–response effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on perinatal outcomes. Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 48, 703–714.