J Korean Med Sci.  2018 Dec;33(50):e318. 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e318.

Association of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters in Meconium of Neonates with Growth Deficits at Birth: a Prospective, Single-Centre Cohort Study

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Sunin Bio Corporation, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Centre, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 5Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • 6Department of Psychiatry, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. nplhk@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND
In this prospective cohort study, we investigated the association between fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium as biomarkers of prenatal ethanol exposure and growth deficits, as birth outcomes, that constitute several of the key cardinal features of fetal alcohol syndrome.
METHODS
A total of 157 meconium samples were collected from enrolled infants within 24 hours of birth, and nine FAEEs were quantified using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The relationships between cumulative concentrations of nine species of FAEEs in meconium and birth parameters of growth (age-sex-specific centiles of head circumference [HC], weight, and length) and respective and combined birth outcomes of growth deficits (HC ≤ 10th centile, weight ≤ 10th centile, and length ≤ 10th centile) were determined.
RESULTS
Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that higher cumulative concentrations of meconium FAEEs correlated with elevated risks for HC and length, both, 10th percentile or less (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-7.74; P = 0.029) and HC and weight and length, all of them, 10th percentile or less (aOR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.12-9.59; P = 0.031).
CONCLUSION
The elevated cumulative FAEEs in meconium were associated with combined growth deficits at birth, specifically HC and length, both, 10th percentile or less, which might be correlated with detrimental alcohol effects on fetal brain and bone development, suggesting a plausible alcohol-specific pattern of intrauterine growth restriction.

Keyword

Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; Birth Outcomes; Growth Deficits, Meconium

MeSH Terms

Biomarkers
Bone Development
Brain
Cohort Studies*
Esters*
Ethanol
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Head
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn*
Logistic Models
Mass Spectrometry
Meconium*
Odds Ratio
Parturition*
Prospective Studies*
Biomarkers
Esters
Ethanol
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