Alcohol consumption can affect placenta growth but folic acid and choline can counter it, study finds

Drinking alcohol while trying to conceive can impair placenta growth and potentially harm a baby’s development, new research has found. The research extends existing knowledge about the impacts of alcohol on pregnancy to pre-conception but should not be cause for alarm among those trying to conceive. More than 400 Australian mothers at Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane between 2018 and 2021 took part in the study, most of whom reported continuing to have a drink while trying to conceive. The researchers found that one in six women who’d had alcohol around the time of conception had measurements that suggested placental insufficiency, which is when the placenta can’t supply a growing baby with enough blood, oxygen and nutrients. For women who hadn’t had alcohol around conception, just one in 45 had measurements indicating placental insufficiency. The researchers said this suggests women who drink alcohol around conception are nine times more likely to have affected placenta development compared to those who don’t consume alcohol. Impaired placenta development can lead to a lower rate of foetal blood and oxygen flow from the placenta to a baby. This reduced rate can cause foetal brain sparing, which is when all the blood and oxygen is sent to baby’s brain during periods of low oxygen or blood from the placenta. It’s a process designed to protect the brain overall, but can impact brain development down the track. Sarah Steane from Mater Research said the study also revealed diet may be the key to preventing any negative effects of alcohol at conception. “We found that women who took the recommended amount of folic acid prior to conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy were less likely to have these abnormal ultrasound measurements,” Dr Steane said. Folic acid is essential for making the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body. It also helps the body break down alcohol. A lesser known micronutrient, choline, is also crucial for healthy placentas and foetal brain development. It is found in foods like red meat, fish, eggs, potatoes and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. But the study found less than a third of women were getting an adequate amount of choline in their diet. “Choline and folate may be acting together to reduce the vulnerability to alcohol exposure, but this really needs more study,” Dr Steane said. Mater Research Pregnancy and Development Group lead Professor Vicki Clifton said research like this is invaluable for understanding what can positively and negatively impact pregnancies. “The take home message from everything that we’ve done so far in the study really is to support the guidelines that if you’re thinking about having a baby, don’t drink alcohol,” Professor Clifton said. “That said, many people unintentionally conceive after a big night out and for them it’s about what they can do afterwards. The recommended intake of folate and a diet high in choline-rich protein such as eggs and red meat, is a good place to start.”