Assessment of alcohol consumption in pregnancy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Use of infant biological markers in assessment of the pattern and prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Greater Glasgow.
IRAS ID
179835
Contact name
Helen Mactier
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
Exposure of the unborn baby to significant amounts of alcohol drunk by the mother during pregnancy is reflected in alcohol metabolites measurable in meconium (the first stool) and in infant blood. This study aims to collect a sample of meconium and a single blood spot sample from a random sample of 750 singleton babies born in a single Glasgow maternity hospital over a one year period, to determine the pattern and prevalence of alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Blood samples will be collected in association with routine newborn blood spot screening, between 96 and 110 hours of life.
As meconium is not routinely collected, mothers will be asked to give informed, written consent for collection of their infant’s meconium as well as the additional blood spot card. Additionally, they will be asked a short series of confidential questions regarding their alcohol consumption during pregnancy. These answers will be compared with routine data collected by midwives at pregnancy booking and, where applicable, at subsequent antenatal visits. Samples will be analysed at the University of Florence, Italy, in conjunction with Dr Gail Cooper, Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow.
To ensure complete anonymity, data linkage will be undertaken by the Safe Haven and an anonymised data set prepared for analysis. The amounts of fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium and phosphatidyl ethanol in baby’s blood will be compared anonymously with infant and maternal characteristics including infant gestation and birth weight and maternal age, parity, educational status, cigarette smoking, postcode and ethnicity.These data will provide a unique overview of the pattern and prevalence of alcohol consumption in pregnancy in Greater Glasgow, allowing better targeting of interventions designed to reduce alcohol consumption in pregnancy. We will also compare the relative efficacies of meconium and blood spot analysis in determination of prenatal alcohol exposure.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
15/WS/0110
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion