Abstract
Here, we explore the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in adolescence. We investigated associations between meconium ethyl glucoronide (EtG) and facial malformation. For 129 children (66/63 male/female; M = 13.3, SD = 0.32, 12–14 years), PAE was implemented by newborn meconium EtG and maternal self-reports during the third trimester. Cognitive development was operationalized by standardized scores (WISC V). The EtG cut-off values were set at ≥10 ng/g (n = 32, 24.8% EtG10+) and ≥112 ng/g (n = 20, 15.5% EtG112+). The craniofacial shape was measured using FAS Facial Photographic Analysis Software. EtG10+− and EtG112+-affected children exhibited a shorter palpebral fissure length (p = 0.031/p = 0.055). Lip circularity was smaller in EtG112+-affected children (p = 0.026). Maternal self-reports were not associated (p > 0.164). Lip circularity correlated with fluid reasoning (EtG10+ p = 0.031; EtG112+ p = 0.298) and working memory (EtG10+ p = 0.084; EtG112+ p = 0.144). The present study demonstrates visible effects of the facial phenotype in exposed adolescents. Facial malformation was associated with a child’s cognitive performance in the alcohol-exposed group. The EtG biomarker was a better predictor than maternal self-reports.
Highlights
The present study examined the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on structural facial changes and associated impairments in cognitive functions in young adolescents
The results suggest that prenatal alcohol consumption has a sustained impact on craniofacial development: When including relevant confounders, we observed that the PFL and lip circularity were affected in young adolescence children
The present study shows the consequences of intrauterine alcohol exposure on the development of the face, and displays the correlation between facial and cognitive changes
Summary
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a known risk factor for child development and can cause adverse and irreversible damage to the child [1]. Alcohol consumption is one of the major preventable causes of childhood health and developmental problems and continues to be a public health challenge [2,3]. The prevalence of self-reported alcohol use in pregnancy is about 10% worldwide [4]. Further research has reported a 20% prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in European countries [5,6]. The prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in a general population has been reported to be 1.1 per
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