Supervisors info:
Νικόλαος Παπαντωνίου, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Δημήτριος Κασσάνος, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Χαράλαμπος Χρέλιας, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
introduction. The consumption of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine during pregnancy is a major cause not only of complications during pregnancy, but also of adverse outcomes in childbirth, and is also responsible for many health problems in both the neonatal period and childhood.
Objective. This thesis studies the documented effects of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine on the outcome of pregnancy, the effects on the fetus and the long-term effects on the infant and child, as well as the effect of consumption on breastfeeding and the absorption of vitamins and trace elements.
Material and Method. The review was conducted with the use of the Pubmed, Cochrane Database and Google Scholar databases. The key words used for the research included terms such as "alcohol", "tobacco", "caffeine", "pregnancy", "tobacco in pregnancy", "smoking and pregnancy", "Alcohol fetal syndrome", "smoking cessation programs".
Results. Alcohol passes freely through the placenta and the blood-brain barrier of the fetus, is directly and indirectly toxic and secreted in breast milk without any safe levels and limits. The alcohol use in pregnancy is associated with obstetric complications and the fetal alcoholic syndrome. Smoking in pregnancy increases the incidence of obstetric complications (such as automatic abortions, precursor placenta, premature placental detachment, premature rupture of the membranes), while both active and passive smoking are associated with intrauterine growth restriction, small birth weight and learning and behavioral disadvantages. Caffeine penetrates the placenta, restricts blood flow to the placenta due to vasoconstriction and damages the immature metabolism of the fetus. Consumption greater than 200 mg on a daily basis is associated with a doubling of the risk of abortion, while consumption greater than 300 mg / day increases the relative risk of abortion, with only a safe dose being considered as zero.
Conclusions. In conclusion, consumption of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine produces adverse effects during the perinatal period for both the mother and the fetus; rises, therefore, the necessity for social intervention and for women to be properly informed about the dangers of consumption during pregnancy. Moreover, is important to highlight the major role that the health officials play in the teaching and counseling of the pregnant women, in order to protect them from those dangers.
Keywords:
Alcohol, Tobacco, Caffeine, Pregnancy, Alcohol intake in pregnancy, Tobacco use in pregnancy, Smoking and pregnancy, Alcohol fetal syndrome, Smoking cessation programs
