Moderate Maternal Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion

Abstract

Maternal alcoholism is known to have adverse effects on reproduction and fetal development, but the effects of moderate consumption remain controversial. In a previous case-control study, we found a doubled risk of spontaneous abortion with an average consumption of seven or more drinks per week during the first trimester. To confirm this finding while avoiding potential biases from the case-control design, we examined moderate alcohol consumption in a prospective cohort study of over 5,000 pregnant women. An interview in the first trimester asked about alcohol consumption during the week before interview ("during the first trimester") and before pregnancy. We found an increased risk of spontaneous abortion in women who drank more than three drinks per week during the first trimester, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-4.5]. The increased risk associated with this moderate alcohol consumption may be higher in first than in second trimester abortions, and it is even higher in the first 10 weeks (OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 1.7-8.7), based on small numbers. Consumption of alcohol before pregnancy was not strongly associated with spontaneous abortion.

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in Neurodevelopmental Disorders:Therapeutic Potential

“…The frequency of fetal alcohol syndrome in the United States is 0.5 to 3 per 1000 births per year [144], and maternal alcohol consumption is the most commonly identified nongenetic cause of mental retardation [145]. As well as characteristic facial features and cranio-facial dysmorphology, children with fetal alcohol syndrome have microcephaly, growth restriction and central nervous system damage.…”

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy : Prevalence, predictors and prevention

“…High levels of alcohol consumption in early pregnancy have been associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion (Bailey & Sokol, 2011). The evidence for smaller amounts is uncertain (Henderson et al, 2007), but a few studies have found that the risk of spontaneous abortions increases gradually with dose of alcohol exposure in early human pregnancy (Nybo-Andersen et al, 2012;Windham et al, 1997). In the study by Andersen and colleagues, no increased risk was found after week 16, implying that the fetus is most vulnerable to alcohol exposure during early pregnancy (Nybo-Andersen et al, 2012).…”

Risk Factors Associated with Infant Mortality in Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria

“…The Nigerian Health Policy recognizes the need to reduce the current high infant mortality rates, but people's belief and behavioral practices have not been adequately integrated into the health intervention [23]. Other determinant factors reported globally include; maternal obesity [9,24,25], diabetes [19,26], hypertension [14,23,26], drinking of alcohol during pregnancy especially within the first trimester [27,28], tobacco smoking during pregnancy [20] especially among singleton births [29]. Others include: HIV infection exposure [30] especially in developing countries [21], rural residence as well as Psychosocial Stressors [22].…”