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Association of fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium and cognitive development during childhood and adolescence
Meeyoung O Min1, Lynn T Singer2, Sonia Minnes1
1Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
Insights
Higher levels of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium, a marker of prenatal alcohol exposure, are linked to lower cognitive development scores in school-aged children. This highlights FAEEs as potential indicators for identifying at-risk newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs can negatively impact child development.
- Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) are biomarkers of in utero alcohol exposure.
- Meconium analysis offers a window into fetal exposure during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between meconium FAEE levels and cognitive outcomes in children.
- To determine if FAEE concentrations predict cognitive development in school-aged children exposed prenatally to alcohol and drugs.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.
- Quantification of FAEEs in meconium samples from 216 newborns using gas chromatography.
- Cognitive assessments (Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-Fourth Edition) administered to 191 children at ages 9, 11, and 15.
Main Results:
- Increased concentrations of specific FAEEs (ethyl myristate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate) were associated with lower scores on the Verbal Comprehension Index, Working Memory Index, and Full-Scale IQ.
- These associations remained consistent over time.
- No significant associations were found between FAEEs and the Perceptual Reasoning or Processing Speed Indices.
Conclusions:
- Elevated meconium FAEE levels may serve as early markers for identifying newborns at risk for cognitive deficits.
- Prenatal alcohol exposure, indicated by FAEEs, is associated with long-term cognitive development challenges.
- Meconium FAEE analysis can aid in early identification and intervention for children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
Objective:
To examine associations between amounts of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium and cognitive development in school-aged children exposed to alcohol and drugs in utero.
Study Design:
A secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of children, primarily African American and of low socioeconomic status, that was recruited at birth. FAEEs were quantified with gas chromatography via a flame ionization detector. Meconium was analyzed for FAEEs in 216 newborns; 191 of these infants were assessed for IQ at ages 9, 11, and 15 years with the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-Fourth Edition.
Results:
Longitudinal mixed model analyses indicated that, after we controlled for maternal and child covariates, greater concentrations of FAEEs (ethyl myristate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate, and ethyl linolenate) were associated with lower Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-Fourth Edition Verbal Comprehension Index, Working Memory Index, and Full-Scale IQ scores. Associations of FAEEs with Verbal Comprehension Index, Working Memory Index, and Full-Scale IQ did not vary over time. No associations of FAEEs with Perceptual Reasoning and Processing Speed Indices were found.
Conclusion:
Elevated levels of FAEEs in meconium are potential markers for identifying newborns at risk for poor cognitive development related to prenatal alcohol exposure.
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