Alcohol and B1 vitamin deficiency-related stillbirths.
OBJECTIVE
The present study attempts to determine whether prenatal thiamine (B1 vitamin) deficiency and prenatal alcohol exposure are risk factors for stillbirths.


METHODS
From conception to parturition, Wistar rat dams were exposed to the following treatments: (1) Rat dams consuming a thiamine-deficient diet; (2) 12% alcohol/water drinking mothers; (3) mothers drinking 12% alcohol/water + thiamine hydrochloride mixture. Appropriate pair-fed controls and ad libitum controls were assessed. Gestation outcome and fetal parameters, including spontaneous abortion, still-born fetuses, litter size and birth weight, were assessed from the dams of each experimental group.


RESULTS
Both alcohol and thiamine deficiency during pregnancy increased fetal death (48.26%vs. 84.47%), reduced litter size (44.54%vs. 72.7%), respectively, and lowered birth weight. Thiamine administration reversed the effects of alcohol-induced fetal death, suggesting that a part of deleterious actions of alcohol on fetal death was mediated by thiamine deficiency. Prenatal thiamine deficiency increased singularly spontaneous abortion with abundant bleeding (40%), rising the occurrence of stillbirth. Such a pathology was not observed in alcohol group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indexed thiamine deficiency as a potent risk factor for stillbirths. The vitamin supply during pregnancy prevents stillbirths related to chronic alcoholism and different facets of malnutrition.
Bâ
Abdoulaye
A
Universite de Cocody, UFR Biosciences, Côte d'Ivoire. abdouba3000@hotmail.com
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012307:Risk Factors; D050497:Stillbirth; D013831:Thiamine / Q000097:blood; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology
D000431:Ethanol; D013831:Thiamine