Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Determined by Examining First Stool

Measuring the levels of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) in an infant's first bowel movement could be a useful method for identifying children at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which may make early intervention possible.

Children who have been diagnosed with FAS are more likely to have serious psychiatric and behavioral problems later in life, including a higher risk for dropping out of school, unemployment, and criminal behavior. Studies have shown that early intervention is a key element in minimizing the negative effects of FAS. Early diagnosis of FAS is not always possible, especially if certain physical characteristics are not present. A study was performed aiming to develop a new way to diagnose infants affected by FAS.

A group of 216 infants whose mothers drank various amounts of alcohol during pregnancy was studied. The levels of FAEE, which are produced when alcohol is broken down in the digestive system, were measured in the first bowel movement of the newborns. The babies were then given developmental tests at the ages of six months, one year, and two years.

Infants with higher levels of FAEE in their first bowel movement were found to be at risk for developmental disorders. According to investigator Dr. Jennifer Peterson, currently at the Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH, USA), "increasing levels of FAEE were significantly associated with poorer mental and psychomotor development during the first two years of life. She also noted, early intervention for such at risk children could minimize disabilities and improve developmental outcomes.”


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