Dose–response effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on perinatal outcomes

Abstract Background A better understanding of the effects of lower levels of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), as a common exposure, is needed. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of mild–moderate PAE and episodic binge drinking on perinatal outcomes. Methods 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. Data were analyzed using correlation and multivariable regression analysis. Results 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 AAD (β = −0.58; 95% CI: −0.98; −0.17) and AADD (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. Conclusions Results of this study 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.