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University of New Mexico researchers have unveiled new findings suggesting that even low to moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy could lead to subtle changes in fetal development, including decreased birth length and shorter gestational duration.
Led by Ludmila Bakhireva, MD, PhD, MPH, professor and assistant dean for Clinical and Translational Research in the UNM College of Pharmacy, the study, published in the journal Alcohol Clinical & Experimental Research, sheds light on the potential effects of moderate alcohol intake on prenatal outcomes.
The research, which spanned three prospective studies conducted at UNM over a decade, followed 281 participants recruited during the second trimester of pregnancy and tracked them and their children afterward. While previous studies have primarily focused on the effects of heavy alcohol use during pregnancy, Bakhireva’s team examined the impact of more moderate alcohol consumption, which is more common among pregnant individuals.
According to Bakhireva, the study highlights the critical period of early pregnancy, during which fetal organs begin to form and are particularly susceptible to alcohol exposure. Despite most participants reducing or ceasing alcohol consumption upon learning of their pregnancy, the study revealed deficits in both male and female infants associated with even reduced alcohol intake.
Notably, the study observed sex-related differences in the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, with male infants showing more pronounced effects on gestational age and female infants exhibiting stronger effects on birth length. Bakhireva cautioned that these findings require further validation due to the study’s limited statistical power.
While emphasizing the importance of larger, multi-site studies to replicate and expand on these findings, Bakhireva underscores the messaging from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: no amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is considered safe.
“I think this study, as well as prior preclinical studies, show that even moderate alcohol use might have negative effects,” Bakhireva noted. “If we try to encourage abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy, we will maximize positive health and developmental outcomes for the children.”
Bakhireva is also the principal investigator of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development study at UNM, part of a national initiative aimed at recruiting 7,500 parent-child pairs to explore the long-term impacts of prenatal exposures. Through collaborative efforts and comprehensive research, Bakhireva and her team strive to advance understanding and promote healthier outcomes for pregnant individuals and their children.
