Laurence J Howe1, Gemma C Sharp2, Gibran Hemani3, Luisa Zuccolo3, Stephen Richmond4, Sarah J Lewis5. 1. MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, University of Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK; Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, UK. 2. MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, University of Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK; Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, UK. 3. MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, University of Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK. 4. Department of Applied Clinical Research and Public Health, School of Dentistry, Cardiff, UK. 5. MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, University of Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK; Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, UK. Electronic address: s.j.lewis@bristol.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: High levels of prenatal alcohol exposure are known to cause an array of adverse outcomes including fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS); however, the effects of low to moderate exposure are less-well characterized. Previous findings suggest that differences in normal-range facial morphology may be a marker for alcohol exposure and related adverse effects. METHODS: In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we tested for an association between maternal alcohol consumption and six FAS-related facial phenotypes in their offspring, using both self-report questionnaires and the maternal genotype at rs1229984 in ADH1B as measures of maternal alcohol consumption. RESULTS: In both self-reported alcohol consumption (N = 4233) and rs1229984 genotype (N = 3139) analyses, we found no strong statistical evidence for an association between maternal alcohol consumption and facial phenotypes tested. The directions of effect estimates were compatible with the known effects of heavy alcohol exposure, but confidence intervals were largely centered around zero. CONCLUSIONS: There is no strong evidence, in a sample representative of the general population, for an effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on normal-range variation in facial morphology.
BACKGROUND: High levels of prenatal alcohol exposure are known to cause an array of adverse outcomes including fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS); however, the effects of low to moderate exposure are less-well characterized. Previous findings suggest that differences in normal-range facial morphology may be a marker for alcohol exposure and related adverse effects. METHODS: In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we tested for an association between maternal alcohol consumption and six FAS-related facial phenotypes in their offspring, using both self-report questionnaires and the maternal genotype at rs1229984 in ADH1B as measures of maternal alcohol consumption. RESULTS: In both self-reported alcohol consumption (N = 4233) and rs1229984 genotype (N = 3139) analyses, we found no strong statistical evidence for an association between maternal alcohol consumption and facial phenotypes tested. The directions of effect estimates were compatible with the known effects of heavy alcohol exposure, but confidence intervals were largely centered around zero. CONCLUSIONS: There is no strong evidence, in a sample representative of the general population, for an effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on normal-range variation in facial morphology.
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