Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can affect placental growth and its functions, a latest study reveals.
The study by the researchers at the University of Manchester shows that moderate or high of alcohol consumption affects the cell growth in the placenta.
The researchers stated that the major breakdown product of alcohol, acetaldehyde, slows down the placental growth, especially during the first few weeks of pregnancy which is an important time for the development of three primary germ cell layers for the internal organs of the fetus.
Furthermoe, the study found that moderate or heavy alcohol drinking slows the flow of an important amino acid, taurine, from a mother to her baby through the placenta. Taurine is known to play important role in the psychological and brain development of the babies and deficiency of the nutrient can lead to further neurological disabilities in infants.
"Alcohol and acetaldehyde are known to be toxic at high levels, but these results clearly show that levels easily achieved in a normal population have specific effects in the placenta," said Sylvia Lui, the lead author of the study, in a press release.
"Placental growth is reduced in comparison to non-exposed placentas, suggesting that in the long-term, there could be consequences to how much support the infant receives from the placenta during the rest of the pregnancy after this exposure."
But, the drinking did not have an impact on the placental attachment to the mother. The researchers also said that minimal consumption of alcohol would not cause much affect to the placenta.
"Though low levels of alcohol did not have a harmful effect, moderate to high levels were damaging," said Dr. Clare Tower, consultant obstetrician at Saint Mary's Hospital, affiliated with the University of Manchester. "The safest clinical advice would be to agree with the current Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines and abstain."
