MODERATE MATERNAL ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AND RISK OF SPONTANEOUS-ABORTION

Maternal alcoholism is known to have adverse effects on reproduction a nd fetal development, but the effects of moderate consumption remain c ontroversial. In a previous case-control study, we found a doubled ris k of spontaneous abortion with an average consumption of seven or more drinks per week during the first trimester. To confirm this finding w hile avoiding potential biases from the case-control design, we examin ed moderate alcohol consumption in a prospective cohort study of over 5,000 pregnant women. An interview in the first trimester asked about alcohol consumption during the week before interview (''during the fir st trimester'') and before pregnancy. We found an increased risk of sp ontaneous abortion in women who drank more than three drinks per week during the first trimester, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.3 [9 5% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-4.5]. The increased risk associated with this moderate alcohol consumption may be higher in first than in second trimester abortions, and it is even higher in the first 10 week s (OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 1.7-8.7), based on small numbers. Consumption of alcohol before pregnancy was not strongly associated with spontaneous abortion.