Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on postnatal growth and the insulin-like growth factor axis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of in-utero alcohol exposure on the insulin-like growth factor axis (IGF) and leptin during infancy and childhood, considering that exposed children may exhibit pre- and postnatal growth retardation.


METHODS
We prospectively identified heavily drinking pregnant women who consumed on average 4 or more drinks of ethanol per day (≥ 48 g/day) and assessed growth in 69 of their offspring and an unexposed control group of 83 children, measuring serum IGF-I (radioimmunoassay), IGF-II (immunoradiometric assay, IRMA), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) (IRMA) and leptin (IRMA) at 1 month and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of age.


RESULTS
IGF-II levels increased with age in both groups, but the rate of increase was significantly higher in exposed children, and levels were significantly higher in ethanol-exposed children at 3, 4, and 5 years of age. In exposed children, IGF-I levels were higher at 3 and 4 years and leptin levels were significantly lower at 1 and 2 years. Exposed subjects showed a much lower correlation between IGF-I and growth parameters than unexposed subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to ethanol during pregnancy increases IGF-I and IGF-II and decreases leptin during early childhood. The increase in serum IGF-II concentrations in ethanol-exposed children suggests that this hormone should be explored as a potential marker for prenatal alcohol exposure.
Aros
Sofía
S
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, San Borja Arriarán Clinical Hospital, Santiago, Chile.
Mills
James L
JL
Iñiguez
Germán
G
Avila
Alejandra
A
Conley
Mary R
MR
Troendle
James
J
Cox
Christopher
C
Cassorla
Fernando
F
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000097:blood; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; C035170:IGF2 protein, human; D020738:Leptin; D013002:Somatomedins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II