Very light drinking during pregnancy not shown to be harmful

January 01, 0001

Very light drinking during pregnancy not shown to be harmful

This study by researchers from the UK examines the relationship between light drinking during pregnancy and the risk of socioemotional problems and cognitive deficits at age 5 years. Data from the nationally representative prospective UK Millennium Cohort Study (N=11,513) were used. Participants were grouped according to mothers' reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy: never drinker; not in pregnancy; light; moderate; heavy/binge. At age 5 years the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and British ability scales (BAS) tests were administered during home interviews. Defined clinically relevant cut-offs on the SDQ and standardised scores for the BAS subscales were used.

Boys and girls born to light drinkers were less likely to have high total difficulties (for boys 6.6% vs 9.6%, OR=0.67, for girls 4.3% vs 6.2%, OR=0.69) and hyperactivity (for boys 10.1% vs 13.4%, OR=0.73, for girls 5.5% vs 7.6%, OR=0.71) scores compared with those born to mothers in the not-in- pregnancy group. These differences were attenuated on adjustment for confounding and mediating factors. Boys and girls born to light drinkers had higher mean cognitive test scores compared with those born to mothers in the not-in- pregnancy group: for boys, naming vocabulary (58 vs 55), picture similarities (56 vs 55) and pattern construction (52 vs 50), for girls naming vocabulary (58 vs 56) and pattern construction (53 vs 52). Differences remained statistically significant for boys in naming vocabulary and picture similarities.

The researchers concluded: "At age 5 years cohort members born to mothers who drank up to 1-2 drinks per week or per occasion during pregnancy were not at increased risk of clinically relevant behavioural difficulties or cognitive deficits compared with children of mothers in the not-in-pregnancy group."

This is not a license to drink during pregnancy. Light drinking here was very light and can be misinterpreted. There are potential confounders, as well.

For the full abstract, click here.

J Epidemiol Community Health published online 5 October 2010 © 2010 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
Light drinking during pregnancy: still no increased risk for socioemotional difficulties or cognitive deficits at 5 years of age?. Yvonne J Kelly, Amanda Sacker, Ron Gray et al. Correspondence to Yvonne Kelly: [email protected]

Category: W. Pregnancy/Family Planning. Keywords: pregnancy, alcohol, light drinking, risk, cognitive deficits, cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 22 October 2010

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