Fetal Alcohol-Related Postnatal Growth Restriction Is Independent of Infant Feeding Practices and Postnatal Alcohol Exposure in a Prospective South African Birth Cohort.

ABSTRACT: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes growth restriction that worsens in the first year of life. However, the roles of postnatal nutrition in fetal alcohol growth restriction and the impact of postnatal alcohol exposure via breastmilk on growth remain unknown. We aimed to compare infant feeding practices during the first 6.5 months of life between heavy drinkers and abstainers/light drinkers, to examine whether these practices play confounding roles in fetal alcohol growth restriction, and to determine the impact of postnatal alcohol exposure via breastmilk on growth. Eighty-seven heavy-drinking pregnant women and 71 abstainers/light drinkers (controls) were recruited prenatally from antenatal clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. Demographic background and alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, an

SUBMITTER: Edwards AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10181362 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature