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Review
. 2015;37(2):279-85.

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Developing Immune System

Theresa W Gauthier  1
Affiliations
Review

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Developing Immune System

Theresa W Gauthier. Alcohol Res. 2015.

Abstract

Evidence from research in humans and animals suggest that ingesting alcohol during pregnancy can disrupt the fetal immune system and result in an increased risk of infections and disease in newborns that may persist throughout life. Alcohol may have indirect effects on the immune system by increasing the risk of premature birth, which itself is a risk factor for immune-related problems. Animal studies suggest that alcohol exposure directly disrupts the developing immune system. A comprehensive knowledge of the mechanisms underlying alcohol's effects on the developing immune system only will become clear once researchers establish improved methods for identifying newborns exposed to alcohol in utero.

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Figure
Figure
Research suggests that alcohol exposure in utero affects infants’ immune function through a variety of mechanisms, including indirectly by increasing the risk of premature birth and directly by influencing immune mediated defenses, particularly in the lungs.
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