Alcohol and pregnancy: an international comparison

Abstract

A study was set up to compare the drinking habits of women of childbearing age in two cities (Milan and Southampton) in two countries, Italy and the United Kingdom, and to look at the effects of alcohol consumption on the weight of the babies born to these women. The sample consisted of 1516 women in Milan and 996 in Southampton, who were interviewed after delivery; data on their drinking history, before and during pregnancy, were gathered, together with social, demographic and health data. The clinical records of the women and their babies were examined. On average, both groups drank less than one unit/day before pregnancy, but there were differences in drinking habits between the two countries, as well as in the modifications induced by pregnancy. The possible effects of alcohol on birthweight were then considered. After controlling for confounding factors, there was no general association between birthweight and alcohol consumption. The impact on health education policy is discussed.

Epidemiology of FASD in a Province in Italy: Prevalence and Characteristics of Children in a Random Sample of Schools

“…Overall, maternal drinking was not associated with lower birth weight, but the authors concluded that birth weight is affected only by abusive drinking (Bonati and Fellin, 1991), the small proportion who drank between meals. Primatesta et al (1993) also reported low rates of binge drinking (1.4%) among prepregnant women in Milan. However, in this same study, 9% of the women reported risky to very risky average weekly consumption of alcohol, with 29% continuing to drink daily during pregnancy.…”

“…In Italy, where daily, moderate drinking is believed to be the predominant pattern, some studies have shown no relationship between maternal alcohol consumption, reduced birth weight, or pregnancy loss (De Nigris et al, 1981;Parazzini et al, 1994Parazzini et al, , 1996Primatesta et al, 1993). Other studies, however, have linked prenatal alcohol use and smoking with low birth weight.…”

“…In Italian hospitals, 29% of women reported drinking daily throughout pregnancy and 1% were classified as drinking between meals (Bonati and Fellin, 1991). Another study in Milan indicated that 1.4% of mothers binged, that 29% of the pregnant respondents reported that they continued to drink daily, and that 9% drank more than 11.5 standard drinks per week (Bonati and Fellin, 1991;Primatesta et al, 1993). If our maternal data collected in this wave of research are correct, then the stereotype of daily drinking among Italian women needs to be questioned and begs clarification.…”

Ethanol and Hormesis

“…According to Abel (1996), the increases in birth weight in epidemiological studies related to moderate drinking during pregnancy (Mills et al, 1984;Lumley et al, 1985;Kline et al, 1987;Little and Wendt, 1991;Godel et al, 1992;Larroque et al, 1993;Lazzaroni et al, 1993;Primatesta et al, 1993) have received little attention. In contrast to the human studies where the increase in body weight, even though slight-tomodest, is not uncommon, it has been rarely reported in animal studies.…”

Maternal risk factors for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a province in Italy

“…While descriptions of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) existed in the Italian literature (Calvani et al, 1985; Moretti and Montali, 1982; Roccella and Testa, 2003; Scianaro et al, 1978; Scotto et al, 1993), early maternal risk studies found little relationship between maternal alcohol use and adverse outcomes (de Nigris et al, 1981; Parazzini et al, 1994, 1996; Primatesta et al, 1993). Prenatal alcohol use and smoking were linked with low birth weight (Lazzaroni et al, 1993); one-third of women delivering in Italian hospitals were daily drinkers, even after recognition of pregnancy (Bonati and Fellin, 1991); and “abusive” and binge drinking were occasionally linked to spontaneous abortion and low birth weight (Cavallo et al, 1995).…”