Rumour: Even the smallest intake of alcohol consumption can create craniofacial anomalies in children.
Truth: This is true. Expectant mothers should abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy as it leads to fetal alcohol syndrome in children. Fetal alcohol syndrome leads to developmental and cognitive disorders, including motor and speech problems. Furthermore, children with fetal alcohol syndrome can display specific craniofacial characteristics.
In JAMA Pediatrics, they assessed level of alcohol exposure in women and looked at the craniofacial shape of their child’s head using 3D images. The study found an association between craniofacial shape and alcohol during pregnancy, even in mothers that report feeling alcohol effects quickly, indicating no significance between the mother’s alcohol metabolism and fetal alcohol syndrome. This article sheds light on how even the slightest consumption of alcohol could have deleterious effects on the child’s development.
To read more about fetal alcohol syndrome and information on this article, click here.
