Women who consume alcohol during pregnancy place their infants at risk for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). The primary characteristics of FAS include distinctive facial features, heart defects, limb and joint abnormalities, growth deficiencies, poor vision, and slow brain development and behavioral abnormalities. There is no distinct amount of alcohol described to cause FAS, so women are advised not to consume alcohol while pregnant.
Many of the effects are long term, and some may be life threatening. While others may be reversible or partially correctable.
A recent animal study published in the journal Behavioral Science found that the nutrient choline may help to reverse some of the damage to the brain caused by alcohol.
Researchers at San Diego University studied mice to understand the effect of choline on brain development after exposure to alcohol. Choline is known to affect brain development via the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
In the lab pregnant mice were fed alcohol to induce FAS in their offspring. Then some of the pups were given choline after birth. Characteristics and activity were observed in both the pups given choline and those not and compared.
All pups born to mice given alcohol exhibited hyperactivity and learning problems. In the pups given choline, these characteristics improved over time.
The authors state that choline should not be an easy out for women to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Especially because FAS includes several serious conditions that are not affected by choline and could be life threatening.
Choline is found naturally in foods including peanuts and peanut butter, iceberg lettuce, and soy products. Many of the prenatal vitamins contain choline as do baby formulas and children's food and supplements.
The authors recommend that women take 450 mg of choline while pregnant and 550 mg while breastfeeding, regardless of whether they consume alcohol or not.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on March 23, 2007 03:56 PM
