THE10% of pregnant women in the world And 50% in Italy consume alcohol during gestation. L’World Health Organization consider pregnancy and breastfeeding two special moments vulnerability to exposure to alcoholfor the mother and the fetus, with possible serious long-term health consequences. Drinking alcohol occasionally and moderately it is part of our eating habits, especially during convivial situations. In Italy about 67% of women use alcoholic beverages. This custom however it also extends from preconception to the first ones fundamental weeks of gestation And feeding time. This custom comes often perceived as risk-free for health but the alcohol it’s a carcinogenic, caloric substancewhich can be addictive and is always associated with multiple harms.
Alcohol in small sips?
Exposure to alcohol can cause serious illness and this is confirmed by Italian Society of Neonatology (SIN). Possible consequences include the FASDor Spectrum of Fetus Alcoholic Disorders, a permanent neurocognitive disability consequent toexposure to ethanol in uteroof which the FASor Fetus Alcoholic Syndrome is the most severe clinical form.
“The alcohol passes always through the placentaregardless of the gestational age, the quantity consumed or the type of drink “- says the Luigi OrfeoPresident of SIN – «even small quantities they can go permanent and irreversible consequences on the unborn child because ofembryotoxic and teratogenic action of ethanol “. The fetus is unable to metabolize alcohol, because it lacks the necessary enzymes: “Therefore fetal alcoholemia is comparable to maternal alcoholemia” – he explains – “when the mother drinks, the baby drinks“. Are approximately 400 pathological conditions associated with FASD that cause more or less severe disabilities for life.
What numbers?
The relationship of births with FASD by women who drink alcohol during pregnancy is of 1:67 and of those born con FAS of 1: 300. The data are underestimated due to the limited number of studies carried out, the methodology used in the collection of information, the variability of the socio-environmental factors and determinants taken into consideration. Furthermore, the absence of a specific maternal alcohol history e general unawareness of the possible damage to maternal and child health contribute to growth of for even less.
An Italian study
The Higher Institute of Health has launched a study, currently underway, dedicated to “Prevention, early diagnosis and targeted treatment of the Spectrum of Fetus Alcoholic Disorders (FASD) and Fetus Alcoholic Syndrome (FAS) “ coordinated by the doctor Simona Pichini. The purpose is monitor actual alcohol consumption during pregnancy and exposure to ethanol in utero, raise awareness of alcohol-related harm to maternal and child health and inform social and health personnel on the importance of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of FASD. The project is the the first national team to collect objective data on the Italian situation on the topic.
Prevention and awareness
The study involves 2000 pregnant women and 2000 newborns in Italy through a eating habits questionnaire before and during pregnancy. Participation in the research also includes the donation of a biological sample (a lock of the mother’s hair or a sample of meconium from the newborn in the first 24 hours of life) for laboratory research of ethylglucuronide, the specific biomarker of alcohol metabolism. «Recruitment was also conceived as an opportunity to raise awareness, which is fundamental for change the concept according to which “small dose small damage “” – Orfeo concludes – «and transform it into “Zero alcohol zero FASD”, Why fetal-alcoholic disorders are 100% preventable by totally avoiding alcohol in pregnancy “.
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