PEDIATRICS Vol. 80 No. 3 September 1987, pp. 309-314
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mills, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by Graubard, B. I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mills, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by Graubard, B. I.

Is Moderate Drinking During Pregnancy Associated With an Increased Risk for Malformations?

James L. Mills MD, MS1 and Barry I. Graubard MA1

1 From the Epidemiology and Biometry Research Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

The relationship between heavy drinking during pregnancy and congenital malformations is well known; however, whether moderate or light drinking is teratogenic is controversial. This prospective birth defects study collected information from 32,870 women about alcohol consumption during the first trimester of pregnancy. Total malformation rates were not significantly higher among offspring of women who had an average of less than one drink per day (77.3/1,000) or one to two drinks per day (83.2/1,000) than among nondrinkers (78.1/1,000). An increased risk as small as 12% in the group averaging less than one drink per day and 45% in those averaging one to two drinks per day would most likely have been detected if it were present. Likewise, major malformations were not increased in these drinking groups. Examining malformations by organ system and individual defect revealed that sex organ malformations and all genitourinary malformations increased significantly (P < .05) with increasing alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that alcohol, at the levels usually consumed during pregnancy, is not a significant cause of malformations. Nonetheless, the possibility that there are some malformations for which no safe drinking level exists requires additional investigation.

Key Words: alcohol • pregnancy • congenital malformation

Submitted on August 28, 1986
Accepted on November 7, 1986




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am J EpidemiolHome page
P. A. Romitti, L. Sun, M. A. Honein, J. Reefhuis, A. Correa, S. A. Rasmussen, and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Maternal Periconceptional Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Orofacial Clefts
Am. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2007; 166(7): 775 - 785.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CirculationHome page
K. J. Jenkins, A. Correa, J. A. Feinstein, L. Botto, A. E. Britt, S. R. Daniels, M. Elixson, C. A. Warnes, and C. L. Webb
Noninherited Risk Factors and Congenital Cardiovascular Defects: Current Knowledge: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young: Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Circulation, June 12, 2007; 115(23): 2995 - 3014.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am J EpidemiolHome page
U. Kesmodel, K. Wisborg, S. F. Olsen, T. B. Henriksen, and N. J. Secher
Moderate Alcohol Intake during Pregnancy and the Risk of Stillbirth and Death in the First Year of Life
Am. J. Epidemiol., February 15, 2002; 155(4): 305 - 312.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
U. Kesmodel, K. Wisborg, S. F. Olsen, T. Brink Henriksen, and N. Jorgen Secher
MODERATE ALCOHOL INTAKE IN PREGNANCY AND THE RISK OF SPONTANEOUS ABORTION
Alcohol Alcohol., January 1, 2002; 37(1): 87 - 92.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am J EpidemiolHome page
U. Kesmodel
Binge Drinking in Pregnancy--Frequency and Methodology
Am. J. Epidemiol., October 15, 2001; 154(8): 777 - 782.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
C. A. Moore, M. J. Khoury, and Y. Liu
Does Light-to-Moderate Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy Increase the Risk for Renal Anomalies Among Offspring?
Pediatrics, April 1, 1997; 99(4): e11 - e11.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ BehavHome page
L. B. Tiedje, M. J. Kingry, and M. Stommel
Patient Attitudes Concerning Health Behaviors during Pregnancy: Initial Development of a Questionnaire
Health Educ Behav, December 1, 1992; 19(4): 481 - 493.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of Pharmacy PracticeHome page
B. M. Frey and J. O'Donnell
Drug Therapy in Pregnancy and Lactation
Journal of Pharmacy Practice, January 1, 1989; 2(1): 2 - 12.
[Abstract] [PDF]