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Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
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Preconceptional paternal alcohol consumption and the risk of child behavioral problems: a prospective cohort study

Min Luan1, Xiaohua Zhang2, Guanghong Fang3

  • 1NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200237, China.

Scientific Reports
|January 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Paternal alcohol consumption before conception is linked to increased child behavioral issues. This study found higher risks of anxiety, somatic complaints, sleep, and behavioral problems in children whose fathers drank regularly.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Child Development
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Paternal alcohol exposure prior to conception is a potential risk factor for offspring neurodevelopment, though human data is limited.
  • Existing research primarily focuses on maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between paternal alcohol consumption in the three months preceding conception and behavioral problems in offspring.
  • To identify specific behavioral issues in children linked to paternal alcohol intake before pregnancy.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Shanghai-Minhang Birth Cohort Study, including 796 offspring.
  • Paternal alcohol consumption was assessed via maternal report, categorizing fathers who drank at least weekly as 'exposed'.
  • Child behavioral problems were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at ages 2, 4, and 6, with negative binomial regression analyzing raw scores.

Main Results:

  • Increased risk of anxious/depressed scores in boys at ages 4 and 6 (RR 1.33-1.37).
  • Elevated risk of somatic complaints in girls at ages 4 and 6 (RR 1.18-1.65).
  • Higher risks observed for sleep problems in girls (age 4), thought problems in girls (age 6), and rule-breaking behaviors in boys (age 6).
  • Dose-response relationships were noted for certain behaviors, indicating increased risk with higher paternal alcohol consumption levels.

Conclusions:

  • Preconceptional paternal alcohol consumption is preliminarily associated with an increased risk of various behavioral problems in children.
  • Findings highlight the potential impact of paternal lifestyle choices on offspring neurobehavioral outcomes.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm these associations and elucidate underlying mechanisms.

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