Maternal alcohol and coffee drinking, parental smoking and childhood leukaemia: a French population-based case-control study.
We investigated the role of maternal alcohol and coffee drinking during pregnancy and that of parental smoking in the aetiology of childhood leukaemia. A French, population-based, case-control study was conducted, comparing 472 [407 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and 62 acute myeloblastic leukaemia] cases of childhood acute leukaemia (AL) and 567 population controls, frequency-matched with cases on age, gender and region of residence. Both case and control mothers filled in a comprehensive self-administered standardised questionnaire, eliciting detailed data on maternal alcohol and coffee consumption during pregnancy and parental smoking before, during and after pregnancy. Maternal alcohol consumption of more than 1 drink per day was related to ALL (OR = 2.8 [95% CI 1.8, 5.9]). While maternal coffee consumption was not significantly related to AL (OR = 1.4 [95% CI 0.9, 2.3]), highest intake of coffee (more than 3 cups per day) during pregnancy was associated with AL in children whose mothers were non-smokers (OR = 1.9 [95% CI 1.0, 3.5]). No association with parental smoking, either maternal or paternal, was observed with AL. The present results suggest a possible role of the highest consumption of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy in the aetiology of childhood AL.
Menegaux
Florence
F
INSERM, U754, IFR69, and Université Paris-Sud, UMR-S754, Villejuif, France. menegaux@vjf.inserm.fr
Ripert
Mahaut
M
Hémon
Denis
D
Clavel
Jacqueline
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine