Ethyl linolenate is elevated in meconium of very-low-birth-weight neonates exposed to alcohol in utero.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The health implications of in utero alcohol exposure have been difficult to study in very-low-birth-weight newborns (VLBW) because of an inability to identify maternal alcohol exposure. Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) are elevated in meconium of alcohol-exposed term newborns. We hypothesized that meconium FAEEs would be similarly elevated in alcohol-exposed VLBW premature newborns.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study of 64 VLBW neonates, newborns were classified into Non-Exposed, Any Exposure, or Weekly Exposure groups based on an in-depth structured maternal interview. Meconium FAEE concentrations were quantified via gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Results

Alcohol exposure during Trimester 1 (Any Exposure) occurred in ~30% of the pregnancies, whi

SUBMITTER: Gross TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5373972 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature