ARND: Latest Red Wine and Pregnancy Alert

The topic of mixing red wine and pregnancy is greatly influenced by perceived benefits and potential risks. There are indeed many health benefits to red wine, but the risks of alcohol to the baby during pregnancy are great. If you are looking to enjoy the health benefits of resveratrol, then you may be advised to simply take supplements, instead of mixing red wine and pregnancy.

Antioxidant benefits of resveratrol in red wine

Benefits that accompany moderate red wine consumption, including the antioxidant benefits of heart-healthy resveratrol, have been well documented in numerous medical studies. Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from oxidative damage caused by molecules called free radicals – which damage cells’ proteins, membranes and DNA allowing cancers to develop. By including resveratrol in your diet, you can stymie the damage free radicals cause.

These tremendous benefits may cause red wine consumers to argue that occasional red wine consumption is not really a risk to an unborn child, believing concerns are overrated by the government and some medical authorities. However, there are inherent risks in mixing red wine with pregnancy.

No known safe alcohol level in pregnancy

Red wine drinkers may downplay potential alcohol-related risks in pregnancy, which are often caused by “too much” alcohol. Unfortunately, no one can identify how much is “too much” with any degree of certainty. The only known safe limit during pregnancy is none at all.

Recently released information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may persuade some red wine drinkers to change their minds regarding mixing red wine and pregnancy. In 2008, the CDC publicized a newly defined alcohol-related pregnancy risk: alcohol-related neuro-developmental disorder (ARND). In the report, which is available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fetalalcoholsyndrome.html, ARND was recognized as a new category of prenatal damage. It refers to children who exhibit the behavioral and emotional problems of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or fetal alcohol effect (FAE), but lack signs of developmental delay or physical growth deficiencies.

Kids with FAE, FAS, or ARND can appear overly belligerent or stubborn. They may even score well on intelligence tests, while still having behavioral deficits that interfere with their ability to succeed. It is essential that their parents, teachers, and health care professionals receive education and training to help them.

Chronic alcohol abuse causes FAS, FAE, and ARND Full-blown fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is caused by chronic alcohol abuse during pregnancy and is seen in children of chronic alcoholic mothers. Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) and alcohol related neuro-developmental disorder (ARND) may occur with only occasional red wine consumption or binge drinking. Therefore, mixing red wine with pregnancy can harm the child, even with moderate drinking.

Prevention is the key

FAS and fetal alcohol related conditions are completely prevented by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. When red wine is consumed during pregnancy, it is passed across the placental barrier from the mother to her unborn fetus. An unborn baby is less equipped than its mother to eliminate alcohol from its system. The unborn fetus receives a high concentration of alcohol that lingers longer than it does in the mother’s system. Moderate wine consumers should stop mixing red wine and pregnancy because of the perceived risks. Those who previously consumed red wine in moderation, primarily for its health effects, may still believe that red wine would be beneficial to them and their baby during pregnancy, but may be advised against it. Instead, you can enjoy the health benefits of red wine through resveratrol supplements, which are alcohol-free. Resveratrol supplements pregnancy option to red wine

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