Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28775124›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2017

Low alcohol consumption and pregnancy and childhood outcomes: time to change guidelines indicating apparently 'safe' levels of alcohol during pregnancy? A systematic review and meta-analyses.

Loubaba Mamluk, Hannah B Edwards, Jelena Savović, Verity Leach, Timothy Jones, Theresa H M Moore, Sharea Ijaz, Sarah J Lewis, Jenny L Donovan, Debbie Lawlor and 3 more

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 85 papers, 17 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
85citing papers in PubMed, 17 pooled it
26.0field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

85 citing papers in PubMed, 17 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 181 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Risks to the Unborn: An Umbrella Review on the Effects of Prenatal Maternal Stress Caused by Natural Disasters.Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress · 2025
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25 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Loubaba MamlukMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Hannah B EdwardsSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Jelena SavovićSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Verity LeachSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Timothy JonesSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Theresa H M MooreSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Sharea IjazSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Sarah J LewisSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Jenny L DonovanSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Debbie LawlorMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
George Davey SmithMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Abigail FraserMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Luisa ZuccoloMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
University of Bristol · GBUniversity Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council G0902144Medical Research Council MC_UU_12013/1Medical Research Council MC_UU_12013/5Medical Research Council MR/M009351/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo determine the effects of low-to-moderate levels of maternal alcohol consumption in pregnancy on pregnancy and longer-term offspring outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY: Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Psychinfo from inception to 11 July 2016. SELECTION CRITERIA: Prospective observational studies, negative control and quasiexperimental studies of pregnant women estimating effects of light drinking in pregnancy (≤32 g/week) versus abstaining. Pregnancy outcomes such as birth weight and features of fetal alcohol syndrome were examined. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: One reviewer extracted data and another checked extracted data. Random effects meta-analyses were performed where applicable, and a narrative summary of findings was carried out otherwise. MAIN

results24 cohort and two quasiexperimental studies were included. With the exception of birth size and gestational age, there was insufficient data to meta-analyse or make robust conclusions. Odds of small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth were higher for babies whose mothers consumed up to 32 g/week versus none, but estimates for preterm birth were also compatible with no association: summary OR 1.08, 95% CI (1.02 to 1.14), I

conclusionEvidence of the effects of drinking ≤32 g/week in pregnancy is sparse. As there was some evidence that even light prenatal alcohol consumption is associated with being SGA and preterm delivery, guidance could advise abstention as a precautionary principle but should explain the paucity of evidence.

Indexed as

Alcohol DrinkingPregnant PeopleAdultDose-Response Relationship, DrugFemaleGuidelines as TopicHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansInfant, Low Birth WeightInfant, NewbornInfant, Small for Gestational AgeObservational Studies as TopicPregnancyPremature BirthPrenatal CarePrenatal Exposure Delayed Effectsepidemiologyobstetricspaediatrics

Identifiers

PMID28775124
PMCPMC5642770
OpenAlexW2755854229

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.