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Maternal Ethanol Use and Selective Fetal Malnutrition

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Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Abstract

Maternal ethanol ingestion may cause fetal injury, particularly impaired somatic and brain growth, by at least two mechanisms: (1) directly, by fetotoxicity from ethanol and/or acetaldehyde; (2) indirectly, by ethanol-induced placental injury and selective fetal malnutrition. There is ample evidence that ethanol and/or acetaldehyde is fetotoxic. In addition, alcoholics are frequently in a state of poor nutrition. However, regardless of maternal nutritional status, ethanol can be placentotoxic, impairing the normal transfer of essential fetal nutrients. Ethanol and/or acetaldehyde has been shown to inhibit placental uptake and/or transfer of amino acids, zinc, and glucose. These effects have been evaluated in animal models and in human tissue. Recent use of the isolated perfused human placental cotyledon has begun to delineate the pathophysiology of ethanol-induced placental injury.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Research, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York, 11030, USA

    Stanley E. Fisher & Peter I. Karl

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    Stanley E. Fisher & Peter I. Karl

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  1. Stanley E. Fisher
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  2. Peter I. Karl
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Marc Galanter

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© 1988 Plenum Press, New York

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Fisher, S.E., Karl, P.I. (1988). Maternal Ethanol Use and Selective Fetal Malnutrition. In: Galanter, M., et al. Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7718-8_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7718-8_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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