Alcohol Consumption at Conception May Increase Risk of Diabetes in Later Life

Women who are unknowingly pregnant and still drinking alcohol may be causing more harm to the fetus than previously thought…

A recent study published by the University of Queensland sought to further investigate how alcohol consumption can affect metabolic regulations, including glucose intolerance, in fetal development. While the study was conducted using laboratory rats, it provides interesting insight into a previously unexplored risk associated with alcohol consumption at conception.

Researchers suggest this environmental exposure to ethanol may cause an epigenetic change and predispose offspring to metabolic changes that may lead to elevated fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucose intolerance and decreased insulin sensitivity.

In the study, laboratory rats were fed regular calorie diets with or without alcohol. Interestingly, maternal alcohol intake from four days before conception until day four of gestation showed metabolic changes in offspring at six months of age. Researchers further noted these metabolic disturbances were associated with increased hepatic gluconeogenesis and impaired signaling.

It is not new to suggest alcohol can have detrimental effects on fetal development, but these findings suggest offspring may be at an increased risk for diabetes later in life. The study also looked at postnatal exposure to a high fat and high cholesterol diet and found alcohol consumption at conception to present a similar diabetes risk in comparison.

With many pregnancies being unplanned and potential mothers drinking alcohol before they are aware they are pregnant, this research is very important. Now researchers are trying to look at ways to prevent this issue.

These researchers suggest some preventative strategies may include giving a particular nutrient during pregnancy to offset early alcohol exposure and reduce the long-term diabetes-related incidence in offspring.

Practice Pearls:

• Pregnant women who unknowingly drink alcohol during conception may expose their fetus to metabolic disturbances with future consequences.
• Offspring exposed to alcohol at conception showed higher FBG, glucose intolerance and decreased insulin sensitivity at six months post-birth.
• New research is looking at various nutrients for pregnant mothers to offset this increased risk of diabetes in adulthood with alcohol exposure at conception.

Gardebjer, E. M., S. T. Anderson, M. Pantaleon, et al. “Maternal Alcohol Intake around the Time of Conception Causes Glucose Intolerance and Insulin Insensitivity in Rat Offspring, Which Is Exacerbated by a Postnatal High-fat Diet.” The FASEB Journal (2015): 2690-701. Web. 5 Aug. 2015. .