An advocacy group is concerned that media coverage of a recent study regarding drinking by pregnant women could have negative consequences. The media only reported part of the study's conclusions, a misinterpretation that the group believes could lead to more drinking by women who are pregnant.The study said that babies of mothers who were light drinkers were not at greater risk, but some media reports said that light drinking could be beneficial to babies, drawing the criticism from advocates.
The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group, a subgroup of the Research Society on Alcoholism, said the media did not accurately report the conclusions of The University College London researchers.
"Unfortunately, several media outlets misinterpreted this report to mean that drinking improved the children's outcome," the FASD Study Group said in a news release.
The study examined the drinking pattern of pregnant mothers of 3-year-olds. They assessed their children for behavior and cognitive skills. The study found that the children of light drinkers were not at greater risk compared with children whose mothers did not drink, but the authors concluded this was due to the higher socioeconomic status of the light drinkers.
Adverse Effects of Light Drinking
Some media reports did not include this conclusion and could encourage pregnant women to not take drinking while pregnant seriously, the group said. "Higher socioeconomic status is well known to improve an infant's neurodevelopmental outcome," the group said.
"Generally, the adverse effects of light drinking during pregnancy are subtle and may go undetected in children," said Feng Zhou, Ph.D., president of the FASD Study Group. "Other alcohol research studies of moderate drinking during pregnancy have shown an adverse impact on multiple aspects of development through adolescence and young adulthood even when other important environmental factors are taken into account."
"The consensus of public health providers and alcohol researchers is that even light drinking can interfere with biological processes critical in the development of the fetal brain," said Dr. Zhou.
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