The effect of alcohol on the developing organism. Genetical, teratological and physiological aspects.

In discussing the effects of alcohol on infants, children and adolescents, it is common to refer first to sociological data and only secondly to medical and biological information, often with scarce experimental support. Recently, however, the genetic, teratological and physiological aspects of the effects of alcohol on the developing organism have been the subject of several investigations, both in man and in experimental animals. It cannot be excluded that genetic factors influence the metabolism of alcohol. The effects of alcohol on some physiological functions vary between different racial groups. A number of studies have revealed teratological effects of alcohol in man, and investigations have also been performed to demonstrate such effects in experimental animals. The development of liver alcohol dehydrogenase activity both pre- and postnatally has been studied. The metabolic capacity for alcohol varies with age, with a maximum during adolescence. As yet, no clear pattern of the effects of alcohol on developing physiological functions can be distinguished, but hypoglycemia seems to be an effect of alcohol on younger organisms which later disappears, while other metabolic functions are rather insensitive in the early developmental stages. Most central nervous effects of alcohol are less pronounced in young experimental animals. The possibilities of extrapolation between experimental animals and man are limited and further studies are needed.