Nutritional Risk Factors for FASD in Ukraine

Pregnant women coming in for routine prenatal diagnostic testing or prenatal care at two sites in Ukraine, Rivne Diagnostic Center or Khmelnytsky Regional Perinatal Center, were screened for alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Those who met the criteria of consuming 4-5 drinks per occasion on 3-4 occasions in either the month around conception or the most recent month of pregnancy were eligible for recruitment into the alcohol exposed group, and the next available woman who consumed no more than 2 drinks on any occasion in the month around conception or the most recent month of pregnancy was eligible for recruitment into the alcohol low or no exposure group. Within alcohol group and within site, women were randomized on a 1:1 basis to receiving a study-provided prenatal vitamin (TheraVit) manufactured in the U.S. and registered in Ukraine as an over-the-counter product, or to receiving standard of care which is obstetric advice to take prenatal vitamins on their own. Within the group randomized to receiving the prenatal vitamins, women were further randomized on a 1:1 basis to receiving an additional 750 mg. of supplemental choline manufactured in the U.S., and registered in Ukraine as an over-the-counter product.

Women in both cohorts were followed until delivery and those with live born children were followed until the child reached one year of age. The primary endpoint for the intervention was performance on the mental developmental index (MDI) and the psychomotor developmental index (PDI) components of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II. The Bayley tests were administered at approximately 12 months adjusted chronological age by trained psychologists in Ukraine.

The primary comparison for the study was within the alcohol-exposed group, comparing mean Bayley scores on MDI and separately on PDI between those randomized to receiving the study prenatal vitamin and those randomized to standard of care.

Secondary comparisons for the study examined

• the mean MDI and PDI scores on the Bayley within the alcohol-exposed group in those randomized to receiving the prenatal vitamin plus choline vs. those who received the prenatal vitamin alone
• the mean MDI and PDI scores on the Bayley within the low or unexposed group in those who received the prenatal vitamin vs. those who did not
• the mean MDI and PDI scores on the Bayley within the low or unexposed group in those who received the prenatal vitamin plus choline vs. those who received the prenatal vitamin alone
• adjusted comparisons for all of the above taking into account participants who were taking vitamins on their own at the time of enrollment, and/or who were taking vitamins on their own if assigned to the standard of care group.

Inclusion criteria

• currently pregnant
• reported alcohol consumption 4-5 drinks per occasion on 3-4 occasions in the month around conception or the most recent month of pregnancy, or
• no more than 2 drinks per occasion in either the month around conception or the most recent month of pregnancy

Exclusion criteria

• unable to provide consent
• unable to provide information about alcohol consumption