Does Prenatal Binge Drinking Harm The Developing Fetus? Evidence Is Scarce

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Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 14 Nov 2007 - 9:00 PDT

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The evidence that binge drinking during pregnancy harms the developing fetus is very limited, according to an article published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (BMJ). There is clearer evidence that regular heavy drinking during the pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of birth defects. However, what impact binge drinking might have, without heavy regular drinking, is unclear, write the authors.

In this article binge drinking means consuming at least five alcoholic drinks in one sitting - approximately 7.5 units or 60 g of alcohol.

The authors' findings come after a comprehensive review of published studies on binge drinking among both pregnant women and those trying to get pregnant. The studies spanned 35 years, 1970-2005, and included over 3,500 articles. The researchers made a shortlist of the 14 most relevant studies. These 14 studies, say the researchers, were of good quality, but did have some methodological flaws.

They found scarce substantive evidence that binge drinking might cause miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, abnormal birthweight, or fetal alcohol syndrome. Although very limited data pointed towards a higher risk of impaired neurodevelopment, these effects were not significant and included disinhibited behavior, reduced verbal IQ, a higher risk of delinquent behavior later in life, and poor academic performance.

The researchers suggest that when the binge drinking takes place may be important, and point to the first 13 weeks of pregnancy as the most impacting on the embryo.

The authors explained "This systematic review found no convincing evidence of adverse effects of prenatal binge drinking, except possibly on neurodevelopmental outcomes."

They suggested that additional research is needed, and urged women to avoid binge drinking during their pregnancies as a precaution.

"When pregnant women report isolated episodes of binge drinking in the absence of a consistently high daily alcohol intake, as is often the case, it is important to avoid inducing unnecessary anxiety, as, at present, the evidence of risk seems minimal," they concluded.

"Systematic review of the fetal effects of prenatal binge drinking"
Jane Henderson, Ulrik Kesmodel, Ron Gray
J Epidemiol Community Health 2007; 61: 1069-75
doi:10.1136/jech.2006.054213
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Written by׃ Christian Nordqvist
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