Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy: a review of effects on growth and development of offspring.

One of the mechanisms whereby alcohol may be adversely affecting fetal development is examined, which has come to be known clinically as the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and with the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in general.

Abstract

Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is associated with increased spontaneous abortion rates, preand postnatal growth retardation, congenital defects, and behavioral anomalies. There is considerable evidence, both direct and indirect, that many of these effects are due to fetal hypoxia. Concern over alcohol's potential to affect the developing fetus can be traced back to Biblical times. In the story of Samson, for example, the hero's mother is cautioned: Behold, you are barren and have no children; but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore, beware, and drink no wine or strong drink. . (Judges, 13:3-4). The Greek philosopher/scientists were certainly aware of alcohol's teratogenic potential (see review by Warner and Rosett, 1975): It is not right that procreation should be the work of bodies dissolved by excess wine, but rather that the embryo should be compacted firmly, steadily, and quietly in the womb,'' said Plato (Laws, 6:775). Aristotle likewise cautioned that foolish, drunken, or hare-brained women [for the] most part bring forth children like unto themselves, morose and languid'' (quoted by Burton, 1621, p. 90). Similar expressions of concern about drinking during pregnancy continued to be expressed periodically, especially during England's Gin Epidemic of 1720-1750 (see Warner and Rosett, 1975), but it was not until the recent publications in 1973 by Jones and Smith (1973; Jones et al. 1973) that alcohol's teratogenic potential gained widespread recognition and acceptance. Since these publications in 1973 there have been literally hundreds of clinical and research studies concerned with the pattern of alcohol-related defects which has come to to be known clinically as the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and with the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in general (Abel, 1981a). This review will summarize some general trends in this literature and will examine in depth one of the mechanisms whereby alcohol may be adversely affecting fetal development. 1Research Institute on Alcoholism, New York State Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14203 Human Biology, September, 1982 , Vol. 54 No. 3, pp. 421-453. & Wayne State University Press, 1982 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.149 on Sat, 09 Jul 2016 05:38:01 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms