Women who take a little alcohol during pregnancy may not be doing their children any harm, according to a major British study.
A study involving more than 12,000 children found that those born to mothers who drank "lightly" during pregnancy appeared brighter and more stable than those born to mothers who followed official advice and made sure they did not drink.
Although the differences reported by the researchers are striking, they may be explained by the nature of those women who continue to take alcohol during pregnancy.
The researchers, from University College London, said they had not managed to account for social differences that might mean the mothers were wealthier than others.
The children were studied at the age of three. The study found that girl children born to light drinkers were 30 per cent less likely to show emotional problems and difficulties relating to their age group.
The boys born to the light drinkers had better speech and knowledge of colours, shapes, letters and numbers than others, according to the report in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
The study confirmed that heavy drinking is harmful to children.
Researcher Dr Yvonne Kelly said: "There is inconsistency in policy around this issue and studies such as this one are vital in light of the wider debate around drinking and pregnancy.
"Our study’s findings do raise questions as to whether the current push for policy to recommend complete abstinence during pregnancy is merited and suggest that further research needs to be done."
She added: "The reasons behind these findings might in part be because light drinkers tend to be more socially advantaged than abstainers, rather than being due to the physical benefits of low level alcohol consumption seen, for example, in heart disease.
"However, it may also be that light-drinking mothers tend to be more relaxed themselves and this contributes to better behavioural and cognitive outcomes in their children."
Meanwhile a British agency is set to publish advice this week warning pregnant women to cut down caffeine, it was reported yesterday.
The advice will come from the Food Standards Agency and will recommend women not to drink more than two mugs of instant coffee a day, it was reported.
International Journal of Epidemiology doi:10.1093/ije/dyn230 October 2008
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