The consumption of alcohol blocks the growth of blood vessels in the placenta – even at conception

A new study suggests that babies whose mothers have consumed alcohol during their pregnancy, even from conception, are more likely to be born with low birth weight.

The new research, conducted by scientists at Oxford University and the University of Queensland, found that alcohol blocked the development of very large blood vessels in the placenta in rats.

And these effects manifest themselves from the very first stages of pregnancy.

They also found that exposure to alcohol had much more dramatic effects on females, which was related to a 17% decrease in birth weight and less development of blood vessels in the placenta.

Some organizations claim that drinking before knowing that one is pregnant will likely not cause "serious harm", but a new study found that alcohol consumption, even at conception, could result in inadequacy weight at birth.

A developing fetus is sensitive to any changes in the mother's body and vital statistics such as birth weight can have lifelong consequences.

Babies are considered to have low birth weight if they weigh less than eight pounds and five ounces.

Being small at birth exposes the child to an increased risk of breathing disorders, bleeding to the brain, heart defects, eye diseases, infection and a underdeveloped liver early in life.

In adolescence and in adulthood, these children are more likely to develop life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

They are also at greater risk for obesity and intellectual disability.

Among the most common causes of low birth weight – apart from premature births – is the restriction of fetal growth.

FGR simply means that a developing fetus does not gain enough weight in the uterus.

Genetic factors – such as the size of parents – can prevent the baby from gaining that weight, as can lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and drug use.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insist that there is no safe alcohol to drink at any time during pregnancy, including before the woman knows she is pregnant.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) echoes this opinion, but it also reassures women: "Serious prejudice of this type of [alcohol] the use is unlikely.

"The important thing is not to drink alcohol for the rest of the pregnancy."

But the new study, published in the journal Development, suggests that there could be risks for the very first sips of wine, beer or alcohol.

Scientists from the University of Queensland and the University of Oxford studied female rats four days before fertilizing their eggs.

They continued to monitor the animals and the development of their embryos until the birth of the baby and estimated that the "early pregnancy" could last up to four days after fertilization.

Even exposure to alcohol during the first days of pregnancy of animals had obvious and damaging effects on the fetus.

In the early days of pregnancy, the placenta develops around the fetus.

The proper development of the organ and its vascular system is essential for the fetus because this system of blood vessels will carry the nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the baby.

But in rats, scientists found that even exposure to alcohol in the early days of pregnancy reduced the growth of blood vessels in the placenta.

For unclear reasons, the effects of this deficiency were much more felt by female fetuses, whose placentas showed a 32% reduction in blood vessel growth and an average lower birth weight. 17%.

"This has implications for human health by helping to explain, in part, why babies exposed to alcohol in the womb often grow small," said co-author of the study. Dr. Jacinta Kalisch-Smith, researcher on placenta research at Oxford University.

"The next part of this project is to determine if nutrient supplementation can reduce, if not prevent, the adverse effects of alcohol exposure."