The association between prenatal alcohol consumption and preschool child stress system disturbance

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

Journal

Developmental Psychobiology Wiley

Book Volume: 64

Pages Range: 687-697

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1002/dev.22038

Abstract

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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Mark Stemmler Lehrstuhl für Psychologische Diagnostik, Methodenlehre und Rechtspsychologie Yulia Golub Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Peter Fasching Professur für Translationale Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe Matthias Beckmann Lehrstuhl für Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde Oliver Kratz Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Johannes Kornhuber Lehrstuhl für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Anna Eichler Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

How to cite

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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