The findings by Kelley at al. (2010) were found in newspapers and TV
shows and presented as evidence that light drinking during pregnancy may
not be harmful after all. The study cannot be used as a dependable
indication that low amounts of alcohol are beneficial to children, because
the amount of alcohol consumed was measured by a self-report of the
mother. Self-reported data on alcohol consumption does not produce
accurate findings, as found in previous studies1,2. In addition to this,
due to the use of a non-experimental design in the study by Kelley et al.
(2010), there could have been a number of intervening variables that
remain undiscovered and account for the absence of association between
these two variables. The authors point to several that they accounted for
to some degree, but understate the fact that causal inference is
impossible, rather than just limited as they indicated. Yet, the authors
use wording in the abstract conclusion of "not increased risk" which also
overstates the findings. This wording implies that they somehow showed a
cause-and-effect relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and
postnatal behavioral problems. A more cautious wording would have been
better to prevent misunderstanding by the readers.
The authors downplay the observation that mothers in their light
drinking category had children who had fewer behavioral problems than
mothers who did not drink at all. In other words, light drinking during
pregnancy is beneficial, if their findings are any indication. The
question is why did the authors not state that light drinking by the
mother during pregnancy is beneficial for children? The answer might be
that it would put a spotlight on the flaws in the study methodology.
One other point is that negative effects of prenatal alcohol cannot
accurately be studied unless the study is lifelong. Studying the child in
question, at the age of five does not demonstrate later consequences that
could emerge clear into adulthood. Finally, one drink once a week during
pregnancy may not have the same effects on one woman as it does another
due to genetic, dietary, and other differences. For these reasons,
pregnant women and health care workers should not yet take any actions
whatsoever based on this study. Until a well-executed experimental study
with random assignment is conducted on this important topic, the answer
will remain unknowable. Light drinking during pregnancy must be soundly
discouraged - not encouraged -- until proven otherwise.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
The findings by Kelley at al. (2010) were found in newspapers and TV shows and presented as evidence that light drinking during pregnancy may not be harmful after all. The study cannot be used as a dependable indication that low amounts of alcohol are beneficial to children, because the amount of alcohol consumed was measured by a self-report of the mother. Self-reported data on alcohol consumption does not produce accurate findings, as found in previous studies1,2. In addition to this, due to the use of a non-experimental design in the study by Kelley et al. (2010), there could have been a number of intervening variables that remain undiscovered and account for the absence of association between these two variables. The authors point to several that they accounted for to some degree, but understate the fact that causal inference is impossible, rather than just limited as they indicated. Yet, the authors use wording in the abstract conclusion of "not increased risk" which also overstates the findings. This wording implies that they somehow showed a cause-and-effect relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and postnatal behavioral problems. A more cautious wording would have been better to prevent misunderstanding by the readers.
The authors downplay the observation that mothers in their light drinking category had children who had fewer behavioral problems than mothers who did not drink at all. In other words, light drinking during pregnancy is beneficial, if their findings are any indication. The question is why did the authors not state that light drinking by the mother during pregnancy is beneficial for children? The answer might be that it would put a spotlight on the flaws in the study methodology.
One other point is that negative effects of prenatal alcohol cannot accurately be studied unless the study is lifelong. Studying the child in question, at the age of five does not demonstrate later consequences that could emerge clear into adulthood. Finally, one drink once a week during pregnancy may not have the same effects on one woman as it does another due to genetic, dietary, and other differences. For these reasons, pregnant women and health care workers should not yet take any actions whatsoever based on this study. Until a well-executed experimental study with random assignment is conducted on this important topic, the answer will remain unknowable. Light drinking during pregnancy must be soundly discouraged - not encouraged -- until proven otherwise.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared