Transgenerational Abnormalities Induced by Paternal Preconceptual Alcohol Drinking: Findings from Humans and Animal Models

Abstract

: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation is a widespread preventable cause of neurodevelopmental impairment in newborns. While the harmful effects of gestational alcohol use have been well documented, only recently the role of paternal preconceptual alcohol consumption (PPAC) prior to copulating has drawn specific epigenetic considerations. Solid human and animal model data demonstrated that PPAC may affect sperm function eliciting oxidative stress. In newborns, PPAC may induce changes in the behavior, cognitive functions and emotional responses. Furthermore, PPAC may elicit neurobiological disruptions, visuospatial impairments, hyperactivity disorders, motor skill disruptions, hearing loss, endocrine and immune alterations, reduced physical growth, placental disruptions and metabolic alterations. Neurobiological studies on PPAC disclosed also changes in brain function and structure by the disruption of the growth factors pathways. In particular, as shown in animal model studies PPAC alters brain nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis and release. This review shows that the crucial topic of lifelong disabilities induced by PPAC and/or gestational alcohol drinking is quite challenging at the individual, societal, and familial levels. Since a nontoxic drinking behavior before pregnancy (for both men and women) during pregnancy and lactation cannot be established the only suggestion for couples planning pregnancies is to completely avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Antioxidant Intervention to Improve Cognition in the Aging Brain: The Example of Hydroxytyrosol and Resveratrol

“…Recent evidence demonstrated that resveratrol mediates epigenetic changes (methylation and acetylation) that persist across generations and that are involved in aging and the function of the nervous system [ 168 , 169 , 170 , 171 ]. The study of key markers involved in senescence and rejuvenation (mitochondrial biogenesis and Sirt1-AMPK-PGC1-α) demonstrated that resveratrol is also able to modulate the changes in these cellular metabolic pathways.…”

Stimulating fertility awareness: the importance of getting the language right

“…The advice was originally that ‘… attention should be given to […] prevention of drinking among pregnant women and women of childbearing age’ but this was swiftly amended after a public outcry and now only speaks about pregnant women ( WHO, 2021 ). While it is legitimate to inform women and men that alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on fertility and reproductive outcomes, it is quite a leap to argue that all women, but not men, of childbearing age should avoid alcohol since the advice is: (i) not well targeted (as not all women of childbearing age plan to ‘bear children’), (ii) paternalistic (as it does not aim to enable better informed decision-making regarding alcohol intake, but to stop young women from consuming alcohol), (iii) overreaching (as complete prevention is not necessary to avoid negative impacts), and (iv) disproportionately focused on women (as preconception alcohol intake by men is also associated with worse perinatal outcomes, see, for example, Terracina et al , 2022 ). Unfortunate missteps like these contribute to a climate in which beneficial fertility health messages may also be rejected because they are perceived as offensive, discriminating or overly paternalistic.…”

Alcohol and Head and Neck Cancer: Updates on the Role of Oxidative Stress, Genetic, Epigenetics, Oral Microbiota, Antioxidants, and Alkylating Agents

“…Alcohol abuse may result in significant mental [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] or physical health problems [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Furthermore, when consumed during gestation, it may induce severe damage to the newborns [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Alcohol is a well-known carcinogen compound but it is still underestimated in the general population, partially also because of the alcohol industry’s extensive misrepresentation of evidence about the alcohol-related risk of cancer [ 21 , 22 ].…”