How fathers' drinking habits affect children's growth

New research from Stellenbosch University suggests that fathers’ alcohol consumption during their partner’s pregnancy may have a measurable impact on a child’s growth and development, adding a new dimension to the understanding of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

While it is well-known that maternal alcohol consumption causes FASD, the study found that a father’s drinking may also contribute to physical and cognitive outcomes in children, particularly when both parents consume alcohol.

“Our findings show that children whose fathers drank alcohol were more likely to be shorter, have smaller heads, and score lower on verbal IQ tests,” said the research team.

“It was also clear from the study that the highest risk to the child's development exists when both parents use alcohol during pregnancy. It also appeared that ‘binge drinking’ by the father, but especially by both parents, has the most detrimental effect on the child’s development.”

The study analysed data from five investigations into FASD prevalence among Grade 1 learners in the Western Cape. Mothers or legal guardians completed questionnaires detailing parental alcohol use. Between 66% and 77% of fathers of children on the FAS spectrum reported drinking during their partner’s pregnancy, averaging 12 drinks per drinking day.

“Fathers who drank an average of five or more drinks per drinking day had shorter children with smaller head circumferences,” the researchers said.

“These children also performed worse on verbal intelligence tests. In general, it was found that the more fathers drank, the worse their children performed. However, all these effects were observed in children whose mothers consumed alcohol during pregnancy.”

The researchers emphasised that paternal drinking alone did not increase the risk of a child being diagnosed with FASD. Yet, when both parents drank, children were more likely to display severe symptoms, including growth delays, smaller head size, and lower verbal IQ scores.

“Even after accounting for alcohol use by mothers during pregnancy, the father’s drinking was still linked to lower child height, smaller head size and reduced verbal IQ,” the team said.

“This suggests that paternal alcohol use may have its own, though limited, impact on a child’s growth and development.”

The study’s authors highlight that the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

“It is not yet clear whether the impact of a father’s drinking on a child’s growth and development stems from impaired sperm quality or other epigenetic influences, but the father’s role in the development of FASD cannot be overlooked,” the report said.

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