Grimm J, Stemmler M, Golub Y, Schwenke E, Goecke TW, Fasching P, Beckmann M, Kratz O, Moll G, Kornhuber J, Eichler A (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2021
Book Volume: 64
Pages Range: 687-697
Journal Issue: 4
DOI: 10.1002/dev.22038
Background: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is considered a risk factor for child development; however, child biomarkers of prenatal alcohol exposure have been rarely studied. We examined whether a meconium alcohol metabolite (ethyl glucuronide, EtG) was associated with child cortisol concentrations at primary school age. Methods: For 137 children, prenatal alcohol exposure was operationalized by the meconium biomarker EtG and by maternal self-reports during pregnancy. Two EtG cut-offs (EtG ≥10 ng/g and EtG ≥112 ng/g) were applied. Cortisol concentrations were measured in saliva and hair samples. Results: Children with EtG ≥10 ng/g showed significantly reduced hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) (p =.050, (Formula presented.) = 0.042). For children with EtG ≥112 ng/g, the cortisol awakening response (CAR) was significantly decreased (p =.025, (Formula presented.) = 0.070). These effects were also present in correlational analyses with continuous EtG data, speaking for partly dose-dependent effects. Especially, within the EtG ≥112 ng/g group, the basal (CAR: rp = −.642, p =.120) and cumulative (HCC: rp = −.660, p =.107) cortisol parameters were associated with child emotional symptoms at medium effect size. Conclusions: The present study showed both the biological association of intrauterine alcohol exposure with the cortisol stress system, partly dose-dependent, and the functional association with emotional and behavioral symptoms.
APA:
Grimm, J., Stemmler, M., Golub, Y., Schwenke, E., Goecke, T.W., Fasching, P.,... Eichler, A. (2021). The association between prenatal alcohol consumption and preschool child stress system disturbance. Developmental Psychobiology, 64(4), 687-697. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.22038
MLA:
Grimm, Jennifer, et al. "The association between prenatal alcohol consumption and preschool child stress system disturbance." Developmental Psychobiology 64.4 (2021): 687-697.
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