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. 2021 Apr 24;52(3):1223–1234. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05027-3

Alcohol and Tobacco use While Breastfeeding and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Louisa Gibson 1,✉, Melanie Porter 1
PMCID: PMC8067780  PMID: 33893938

Abstract

Research has linked prenatal alcohol and tobacco use with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and variably with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Lactational use has been scantly considered. This study examined whether it may alter ADHD or ASD risk. Participants were 5107 infants recruited in 2004 and assessed longitudinally for the Growing Up in Australia Study. Logistic regression did not find any associations between maternal alcohol and tobacco use while breastfeeding and ADHD or ASD diagnosis at ages 6–7 or 10–11 years. Alcohol and tobacco use during lactation may not increase ADHD or ASD risk. Abstaining from alcohol and tobacco, however, may still be the safest option. Analyses were limited by lack of alcohol timing and retrospective variables that future research should address.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10803-021-05027-3.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Breastfeeding, Alcohol, Tobacco

Introduction

Prenatal alcohol and tobacco exposure are associated with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Dong et al., 2018; Huang et al., 2018; Wetherill et al., 2018). While findings are variable, prenatal tobacco exposure (Gardener et al., 2009; Jung et al., 2017; Rosen et al., 2015; Tang et al., 2015), but not alcohol (Gallagher et al., 2018; Singer et al., 2017), is also a potential risk factor for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This may be related to brain development, since prenatal alcohol and nicotine are associated with negative brain changes (Bublitz & Stroud, 2012; Ekblad et al., 2015; Lebel et al., 2011; Paolozza et al., 2014). Breastfeeding alcohol has also been associated with decreased abstract reasoning (Gibson & Porter, 2018) and academic outcomes (Gibson & Porter, 2020a). Given these associations, it is possible that alcohol or tobacco intake during lactation may also be related to ADHD or ASD.

Prenatal tobacco is related to decreased brain volume, and alterations to information and auditory processing (Bublitz & Stroud, 2012; Ekblad et al., 2015). In particular, reductions in frontal lobe volume (Bublitz & Stroud, 2012; Ekblad et al., 2015) may underlie difficulties with attention (Cornelius et al., 2011; Noland et al., 2005), impulsivity (Cornelius et al., 2011), and drug use (Wilens et al., 2011). These changes, combined with genes that are associated with both ADHD and smoking (Barkley et al., 1019), could partly explain associations between maternal smoking and ADHD. While many children with ADHD have not had tobacco exposure (Zhu et al., 2014), meta-analyses have identified increased ADHD risk in children whose mothers smoked while pregnant (Dong et al., 2018; Huang et al., 2018). This relationship may be dose-dependent, since heavier smoking has been associated with greatest risk (Huang et al., 2018). Results regarding prenatal tobacco smoking and ASD are mixed (Gardener et al., 2009; Jung et al., 2017; Rosen et al., 2015; Tang et al., 2015). While several meta-analyses (Gardener et al., 2009; Rosen et al., 2015; Tang et al., 2015) have not identified a relationship, Jung et al. (2017) found that prenatal tobacco smoking was geographically associated with increased ASD risk.

As with tobacco, prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with reduced brain volume (Lebel et al., 2011), and attention and impulsivity difficulties (Paolozza et al., 2014). Dose-dependence is also suggested, since children with prenatal alcohol exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder have greater attention difficulties than children with prenatal alcohol exposure alone (Paolozza et al., 2014). The same ADHD and smoking genes have also been associated with alcohol use (Barkley et al., 1019). Although many children with ADHD have not had alcohol exposure (Gustavson et al., 2017), a meta-analysis found that children of mothers who drank during pregnancy had greater risk of developing ADHD (Wetherill et al., 2018). The evidence regarding alcohol and ASD is limited, but does not support an association between prenatal alcohol and ASD (Gallagher et al., 2018; Singer et al., 2017). Mothers of children with ASD were less likely to have consumed alcohol prenatally (Singer et al., 2017), and no increased ASD risk following prenatal alcohol was observed (Gallagher et al., 2018).

Although the teratogenic effects are well researched, assessments of alcohol or tobacco use during lactation are limited. Both alcohol (Kesäniemi, 1974) and nicotine (Luck & Nau, 1984) pass quickly to breastmilk, and may negatively impact brain development (Borges & Lewis, 1982; Climent et al., 2002; Gonzalez-Burgos et al., 2006; Hekmatpanah et al., 1994; Museridze et al., 2008; Zhu et al., 1996). The concentration of alcohol in breastmilk is similar to maternal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) (Kesäniemi, 1974). “Pumping and dumping” breastmilk may therefore be ineffective at reducing breastmilk alcohol (Lawton, 1985). Nicotine concentration in breastmilk may be higher than maternal BAC (Luck & Nau, 1984). Both alcohol and nicotine reduce milk production (Napierala et al., 2016; Mennella et al., 2005; Giglia & Binns, 2006), and alcohol can alter infant sleeping patterns (Haastrup et al., 2014; Mennella, 2001). Nicotine is associated with changes in breastmilk composition and taste (Napierala et al., 2016), which may further impact infant feeding and nutrition.

Dose-dependent reductions in abstract reasoning (Gibson & Porter, 2018), academic achievement (Gibson & Porter, 2020a), but not developmental health (Gibson & Porter, 2020b) have been observed following maternal consumption of alcohol while breastfeeding. This suggests that cognitive and academic outcomes may be impacted by maternal intake of alcohol during lactation. It has also been observed that children from language backgrounds other than English match or outperform English-language counterparts on Australian academic tests (Gibson & Porter, 2021). While causality is unlikely, it is noteworthy that these children breastfed for longer, and their mothers consumed less alcohol or had less risky alcohol consumption patterns while pregnant and breastfeeding (Gibson & Porter, 2021).

Prenatal tobacco and alcohol have been identified as potential risk factors for ADHD (Dong et al., 2018; Huang et al., 2018; Wetherill et al., 2018) and ASD (Gallagher et al., 2018; Gardener et al., 2009; Jung et al., 2017; Rosen et al., 2015; Singer et al., 2017; Tang et al., 2015). Additionally, alcohol consumed while breastfeeding has been associated with negative cognitive and academic outcomes in children (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a). Given these associations, the current study aimed to assess whether tobacco or alcohol intake during lactation may be separately associated with increased ADHD or ASD risk. It was hypothesised that alcohol and tobacco intake during breastfeeding would each be independently dose-dependently related to increased ADHD and ASD risk in children.

Method

Study Cohort

Data was sourced from Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) (Growing Up in Australia n.d.). Analyses comprised 5107 infants and caregivers from LSAC recruited in 2004 (average age = 9 months, range = 4–19 months). Participants were assessed in data waves every two years (Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2015). Wave 1 represents study entry. Only waves 4 (age 6–7 years) and 6 (age 10–11 years) outcomes were analysed for comparison to prior studies (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b). Further details are available in LSAC Technical Paper No 1 (Soloff et al., 2005), from the LSAC website https://growingupinaustralia.gov.au/ (including dietary information), and from previous publications (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b).

Breastfeeding

Children were grouped into babies who were breastfeeding at Wave 1 (sample group 1), and babies who had been breastfed at any time (babies who were actively breastfeeding at Wave 1 combined with babies who had been breastfed in the past, but had stopped by study entry) (sample group 2) (Fig. 1). Questionnaires asked whether babies were currently breastfed or previously breastfed. Breastfeeding was not defined any further, and the questionnaire did not specify whether feeding of expressed milk should be defined as breastfeeding. Further details, including specific wording of questions, have been previously described (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b).

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Graphical representation of study samples. Numbers given are after multiple imputation

Predictor Variables

Variables have been described previously (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b). Briefly, tobacco smoking was recorded as the number of cigarettes mothers smoked on average per day at Wave 1, and retrospectively during pregnancy. Alcohol was measured using a modified version of the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) Alcohol Consumption Questions (AUDIT-C) (Babor et al., 2001; Bush et al., 1998) at Wave 1. Higher scores indicated greater or riskier alcohol consumption. These self-report questions were the only methods employed for measuring tobacco and alcohol use. A visual chart explaining the concept of a standard drink was provided, but the type of alcohol consumed was not asked. The modified AUDIT-C questions were as below.

  1. Mother’s frequency of drinking alcohol?

    Never; Not in the last year; Monthly or less; 2 to 3 times per month; Once a week; 2 to 3 times a week; 4 to 6 times a week; Every day.

  2. Mother’s average number of drinks when drinking?

    0; 1 or 2; 3 or 4; 5 or 6; 7 to 10; 11 or more.

  3. Mother’s frequency of drinking ≥ 5 drinks in one sitting?

    Not in the last year; Monthly or less; 2 or 3 times a month; Once a week; 2 to 3 times a week; 4 to 6 times a week; Every day.

Pregnancy alcohol consumption was recorded retrospectively as the number of days per week mothers drank alcohol each trimester and the average quantity they consumed on each occasion as below. No other method of measurement was utilised.

  1. Mother’s trimester 1 days per week drinking alcohol?

    0 or occasional; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7.

  2. Mother’s trimester 2 days per week drinking alcohol?

    0 or occasional; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7.

  3. Mother’s trimester 3 days per week drinking alcohol?

    0 or occasional; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7.

  4. Average number of drinks on drinking days?

    0 or none; 1 or 2; 3 or 4; 5 or 6; 7 to 10; 11 or more.

Outcome Variables

Outcome variables were a diagnosis of ADHD or ASD at Waves 4 and 6 as reported by caregivers. No separate assessment was conducted, and dual diagnosis was not considered. While caregivers were not questioned about the diagnostic process, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) was the standard diagnostic manual among mental health professionals in Australia at the time. The questions to caregivers regarding ADHD and ASD diagnosis were worded as follows, with the option to answer yes or no:

  1. Does child have any of these ongoing conditions?

    Autism, Aspergers [sic], or other autism spectrum [sic]?

  2. Does child have any of these ongoing conditions?

    ADD[sic]/ADHD?

Control Variables

Control variables have been described previously (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b). Briefly, they included sex, child age, maternal age, combined family income, maternal education, birthweight, and breastfeeding duration, since these have all been associated with cognitive or academic outcomes in children (Aarnoudse-Moens et al., 2009; Bernard et al., 2017; Leigh & Gong, 2010; Semrud-Clikeman, 2005; Stoet & Geary, 2013; Tong et al., 2007; Van Heugten et al., 2006; Verhaeghen & Salthouse, 1997). As described previously (Gibson & Porter, 2020a), in analyses of babies who had been breastfed at any time, breastfeeding status (current or prior) was added as a control variable to account for non-contemporaneous measurement of maternal modified AUDIT-C scores and maternal smoking in infants who had ceased breastfeeding by study entry.

Statistical Analyses

Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 24. Missing data was imputed using multiple imputation (MI) according to previous methods (Gibson & Porter, 2018). Twenty-eight imputations were used since the highest proportion of missing data for any variable was 28% (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b). Matching the imputation number to missing data percentage when missing data is ˂50%, increases efficiency and replicability of data (von Hippel, 2016).

Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed including all predictor and control variables separately for each outcome variable for consistency with prior research (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b). The Benjamini–Hochberg procedure (Benjamini & Hochberg, 1995) was used to correct for Type I error (α = 0·05, 2-tailed). The variance explained by the model was reported using the Nagelkerke pseudo R Square.

Results

Descriptive Statistics (Prior to MI)

Descriptive statistics have been previously reported (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b).

Power Analyses

Only data from biological mothers and their children was included. With 14 independent variables, and a pooled sample size of 2008 infants (after MI) who were breastfeeding at study entry, > 99% power was achieved (d = 0·2, α = 0·05). With a sample of 4679 babies who had breastfed at any time, > 99% power was also achieved (d = 0·2, α = 0·05) with 15 independent variables (Faul et al., 2007, 2009).

Missing Data

Little’s Missing Completely at Random (MCAR) test found that data was not MCAR, χ2 = 3617.52, df = 1889, p = ˂0·0001. Data may be missing at random and suitable for MI (Sterne et al., 2009), given that poorly educated parents were more likely to drop out of the study (Baxter, 2013).

Babies Breastfeeding at Wave 1: ADHD

For Wave 4, the model explained 4–17% of variance across imputations. For Wave 6, the model explained 3–6% of variance across imputations. No variables were associated with a greater or lesser ADHD risk (Tables 1, 2).

Table 1.

Wave 4 attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (babies breastfeeding at study entry)

Variable B SE Odds Ratio 95%CI p value Adjusted p value*
Mother’s modified AUDIT-C score wave 1 0.19 0.12 1.21 0.96–1.53 0.10 0.95
Mother’s level of education − 0.26 0.18 0.77 0.54–1.09 0.14 0.95
Child’s birth weight (grams) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.31 0.95
Mother’s average daily cigarettes wave 1 − 0.12 0.18 0.89 0.62–1.26 0.50 0.95
Child’s sex − 0.31 0.51 0.73 0.27–1.99 0.54 0.95
Pregnancy: average number of drinks − 0.34 0.65 0.71 0.20–2.58 0.61 0.95
Pregnancy: 3rd trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.51 1.00 0.60 0.08–4.27 0.61 0.95
Combined family income# − 0.05 0.13 0.95 0.74–1.22 0.69 0.95
Mother’s age wave 1 − 0.02 0.05 0.98 0.89–1.09 0.75 0.95
Breastfeeding duration (days) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.79 0.95
Child’s age (months) 0.19 0.86 1.21 0.23–6.52 0.82 0.95
Pregnancy: 2nd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.17 0.99 1.18 0.17–8.28 0.86 0.95
Average daily cigarettes while pregnant − 0.03 0.25 0.97 0.60–1.58 0.91 0.95
Pregnancy: 1st trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.05 0.69 1.05 0.27–4.05 0.95 0.95
Constant − 5.90 6.47 0.00 0.00–886.65 0.36 N/A
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AUDIT-C alcohol use disorders identification test alcohol consumption questions, SE standard error, CI confidence interval

#Higher scores indicate lower income

*Benjamini–Hochberg method

Table 2.

Wave 6 attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (babies breastfeeding at study entry)

Variable B SE Odds Ratio 95%CI p value Adjusted p value*
Pregnancy: 3rd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.55 0.21 1.73 1.14–2.63 0.01 0.08
Pregnancy: average number of drinks 0.68 0.27 1.97 1.16–3.34 0.01 0.08
Pregnancy: 2nd trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.72 0.38 0.49 0.23–1.02 0.06 0.27
Child’s birth weight (grams) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.12 0.40
Mother’s modified AUDIT-C score wave 1 − 0.09 0.08 0.92 0.79–1.07 0.26 0.73
Breastfeeding duration (days) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.35 0.82
Mother’s age wave 1 − 0.02 0.03 0.98 0.93–1.04 0.48 0.93
Average daily cigarettes while pregnant − 0.07 0.11 0.93 0.75–1.16 0.53 0.93
Child’s age (months) − 0.19 0.40 0.82 0.38–1.80 0.63 0.95
Mother’s level of education 0.03 0.10 1.04 0.86–1.25 0.72 0.95
Pregnancy: 1st trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.11 0.33 0.90 0.47–1.73 0.75 0.95
Combined family income# − 0.01 0.06 0.99 0.88–1.11 0.82 0.95
Child’s sex − 0.03 0.28 0.97 0.57–1.66 0.91 0.98
Mother’s average daily cigarettes wave 1 0.00 0.07 1.00 0.87–1.15 0.99 0.99
Constant − 2.22 4.54 0.11 0.00–802.50 0.63 N/A
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AUDIT-C alcohol use disorders identification test alcohol consumption questions, SE standard error, CI confidence interval

#Higher scores indicate lower income

*Benjamini–Hochberg method

Babies Breastfeeding at Wave 1: ASD

For Wave 4, the model explained 4–7% of variance across imputations. For Wave 6, the model explained 2–7% of variance across imputations. No variables were associated with a greater or lesser ASD risk (Tables 3, 4).

Table 3.

Wave 4 autistic spectrum disorder (babies breastfeeding at study entry)

Variable B SE Odds Ratio 95%CI p value Adjusted p value*
Breastfeeding duration (days) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.11 0.63
Child’s sex − 0.57 0.36 0.57 0.28–1.15 0.12 0.63
Pregnancy: Average number of drinks − 0.62 0.42 0.54 0.24–1.22 0.14 0.63
Mother’s modified AUDIT-C score wave 1 0.11 0.08 1.11 0.95–1.31 0.18 0.63
Average daily cigarettes while pregnant 0.09 0.09 1.10 0.92–1.31 0.31 0.87
Pregnancy: 1st trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.32 0.42 0.72 0.32–1.66 0.44 0.88
Pregnancy: 2nd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.46 0.65 1.58 0.45–5.63 0.48 0.88
Mother’s level of education − 0.08 0.13 0.93 0.73–1.19 0.55 0.88
Pregnancy: 3rd trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.28 0.57 0.76 0.25–2.33 0.63 0.88
Child’s birth weight (grams) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.68 0.88
Mother’s age Wave 1 0.01 0.04 1.01 0.95–1.09 0.69 0.88
Child’s age (months) 0.19 0.62 1.21 0.36–4.05 0.76 0.89
Mother’s average daily cigarettes wave 1 − 0.01 0.07 0.99 0.86–1.14 0.88 0.89
Combined family income# 0.01 0.08 1.01 0.87–1.18 0.89 0.89
Constant − 4.20 4.58 0.02 0.00–117.59 0.36 N/A
Open in a new tab

AUDIT-C alcohol use disorders identification test alcohol consumption questions, SE standard error, CI confidence interval

#Higher scores indicate lower income

*Benjamini–Hochberg method

Table 4.

Wave 6 autistic spectrum disorder (babies breastfeeding at study entry)

Variable B SE Odds Ratio 95%CI p value Adjusted p value*
Child’s age (months) − 0.65 0.40 0.52 0.24–1.15 0.11 0.56
Pregnancy: 3rd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.34 0.22 1.41 0.91–2.18 0.13 0.56
Child’s sex − 0.34 0.27 0.71 0.42–1.20 0.20 0.56
Pregnancy: Average number of drinks 0.37 0.29 1.44 0.81–2.56 0.21 0.56
Child’s birth weight (grams) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.22 0.56
Pregnancy: 2nd trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.42 0.36 0.66 0.33–1.32 0.24 0.56
Breastfeeding duration (days) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.31 0.61
Combined family income# − 0.05 0.06 0.95 0.85–1.07 0.42 0.73
Mother’s age wave 1 − 0.02 0.03 0.98 0.93–1.04 0.54 0.84
Mother’s level of education − 0.05 0.09 0.95 0.79–1.15 0.61 0.85
Pregnancy: 1st trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.10 0.31 0.91 0.49–1.67 0.75 0.96
Mother’s modified AUDIT-C score wave 1 − 0.01 0.07 0.99 0.86–1.15 0.94 0.97
Mother’s average daily cigarettes wave 1 0.00 0.06 1.00 0.88–1.14 0.96 0.97
Average daily cigarettes while pregnant 0.00 0.09 1.00 0.83–1.19 0.97 0.97
Constant 3.78 4.56 43.65 0.01–335,126.29 0.41 N/A
Open in a new tab

AUDIT-C alcohol use disorders identification test alcohol consumption questions, SE standard error, CI confidence interval

#Higher scores indicate lower income

*Benjamini–Hochberg method

Babies Breastfed at Any Time: ADHD

For Wave 4, the model explained 3–5% of variance across imputations. For Wave 6, the model explained 2–4% of variance across imputations. No variables were associated with a greater or lesser ADHD risk (Tables 5, 6).

Table 5.

Wave 4 attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (babies who had been breastfed at any time)

Variable B SE Odds Ratio 95%CI p value Adjusted p value*
Child’s sex − 0.49 0.27 0.61 0.36–1.05 0.08 0.63
Breastfeeding status (currently or previously breastfed) 0.53 0.31 1.69 0.93–3.07 0.09 0.63
Mother’s modified AUDIT-C score wave 1 0.10 0.07 1.10 0.97–1.25 0.15 0.63
Child’s birth weight (grams) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.24 0.63
Pregnancy: 1st trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.42 0.38 0.66 0.31–1.39 0.27 0.63
Child’s age (months) 0.50 0.45 1.64 0.68–3.98 0.27 0.63
Pregnancy: average number of drinks − 0.36 0.35 0.70 0.35–1.38 0.30 0.63
Combined family income# 0.05 0.06 1.05 0.94–1.17 0.41 0.74
Mother’s average daily cigarettes wave 1 − 0.03 0.05 0.97 0.89–1.07 0.53 0.74
Mother’s age wave 1 0.01 0.03 1.01 0.96–1.07 0.64 0.74
Average daily cigarettes while pregnant 0.03 0.06 1.03 0.92–1.14 0.65 0.74
Pregnancy: 2nd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.22 0.48 1.25 0.48–3.20 0.65 0.74
Mother’s level of education − 0.04 0.10 0.96 0.80–1.16 0.68 0.74
Breastfeeding duration (days) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.69 0.74
Pregnancy: 3rd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.05 0.44 1.05 0.45–2.47 0.91 0.91
Constant − 9.20 3.40 0.00 0.00–0.08 0.01 N/A
Open in a new tab

AUDIT-C alcohol use disorders identification test alcohol consumption questions, SE standard error, CI confidence interval

#Higher scores indicate lower income

*Benjamini–Hochberg method

Table 6.

Wave 6 attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (babies who had been breastfed at any time)

Variable B SE Odds Ratio 95%CI p value Adjusted p value*
Pregnancy: 3rd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.43 0.18 1.53 1.07–2.19 0.02 0.22
Pregnancy: Average number of drinks 0.43 0.20 1.54 1.04–2.26 0.03 0.22
Pregnancy: 2nd trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.53 0.29 0.59 0.33–1.04 0.07 0.34
Combined family income# 0.06 0.04 1.06 0.98–1.15 0.12 0.45
Average daily cigarettes while pregnant − 0.07 0.06 0.93 0.83–1.03 0.18 0.47
Mother’s level of education 0.09 0.07 1.09 0.96–1.25 0.19 0.47
Child’s birth weight (grams) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.24 0.50
Breastfeeding status (currently or previously breastfed) − 0.22 0.20 0.80 0.54–1.19 0.27 0.50
Pregnancy: 1st trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.28 0.29 0.75 0.43–1.33 0.33 0.54
Breastfeeding duration (days) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.45 0.67
Mother’s average daily cigarettes wave 1 0.02 0.04 1.02 0.95–1.09 0.55 0.75
Child’s age (months) 0.14 0.29 1.14 0.65–2.01 0.64 0.80
Child’s sex − 0.06 0.19 0.94 0.65–1.36 0.74 0.86
Mother’s modified AUDIT-C score wave 1 − 0.01 0.05 0.99 0.91–1.09 0.87 0.93
Mother’s age wave 1 0.00 0.02 1.00 0.96–1.04 0.96 0.96
Constant − 6.65 3.26 0.00 0.00–0.78 0.04 N/A
Open in a new tab

AUDIT-C alcohol use disorders identification test alcohol consumption questions, SE standard error, CI confidence interval

#Higher scores indicate lower income

*Benjamini–Hochberg method

Babies Breastfed at Any Time: ASD

For Wave 4, the model explained 1–2% of variance across imputations. For Wave 6, the model explained 1–2% of variance across imputations. No variables were associated with a greater or lesser ASD risk (Tables 7, 8).

Table 7.

Wave 4 autistic spectrum disorder (babies who had been breastfed at any time)

Variable B SE Odds Ratio 95%CI p value Adjusted p value*
Breastfeeding status (currently or previously breastfed) 0.32 0.23 1.38 0.88–2.15 0.16 0.89
Mother’s modified AUDIT-C score wave 1 0.06 0.05 1.06 0.97–1.16 0.21 0.89
Breastfeeding duration (days) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.33 0.89
Mother’s level of education − 0.06 0.07 0.94 0.81–1.09 0.41 0.89
Mother’s average daily cigarettes wave 1 − 0.02 0.03 0.98 0.92–1.04 0.48 0.89
Pregnancy: 3rd trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.20 0.34 0.82 0.42–1.59 0.56 0.89
Child’s birth weight (grams) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.59 0.89
Pregnancy: 2nd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.18 0.38 1.19 0.56–2.53 0.65 0.89
Pregnancy: 1st trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.11 0.24 0.90 0.56–1.45 0.66 0.89
Pregnancy: average number of drinks 0.09 0.21 1.09 0.73–1.64 0.66 0.89
Combined family income# 0.02 0.05 1.02 0.93–1.11 0.73 0.89
Mother’s age wave 1 0.01 0.02 1.01 0.97–1.05 0.77 0.89
Average daily cigarettes while pregnant 0.01 0.04 1.01 0.94–1.09 0.79 0.89
Child’s sex − 0.05 0.21 0.96 0.64–1.43 0.83 0.89
Child’s age (months) − 0.01 0.35 0.99 0.50–1.97 0.97 0.97
Constant − 4.32 2.63 0.01 0.00–2.29 0.10 N/A
Open in a new tab

AUDIT-C alcohol use disorders identification test alcohol consumption questions, SE standard error, CI confidence interval

#Higher scores indicate lower income

*Benjamini–Hochberg method

Table 8.

Wave 6 autistic spectrum disorder (babies who had been breastfed at any time)

Variable B SE Odds Ratio 95%CI p value Adjusted p value*
Child’s birth weight (grams) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.20 0.99
Breastfeeding duration (days) 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00–1.00 0.21 0.99
Pregnancy: 3rd trimester days per week drank alcohol 0.24 0.20 1.27 0.86–1.88 0.22 0.99
Combined family income# − 0.04 0.04 0.97 0.90–1.04 0.36 0.99
Pregnancy: average number of drinks 0.18 0.21 1.20 0.80–1.79 0.38 0.99
Child’s sex − 0.15 0.18 0.86 0.61–1.22 0.40 0.99
Pregnancy: 1st trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.09 0.19 0.91 0.63–1.32 0.62 0.99
Mother’s age wave 1 − 0.01 0.02 0.99 0.96–1.03 0.76 0.99
Pregnancy: 2nd trimester days per week drank alcohol − 0.06 0.26 0.94 0.57–1.57 0.82 0.99
Mother’s average daily cigarettes wave 1 − 0.01 0.03 0.99 0.94–1.05 0.83 0.99
Breastfeeding status (currently or previously breastfed) − 0.04 0.19 0.96 0.66–1.40 0.85 0.99
Average daily cigarettes while pregnant 0.00 0.04 1.00 0.93–1.08 0.94 0.99
Mother’s level of education 0.00 0.06 1.00 0.89–1.14 0.95 0.99
Mother’s modified AUDIT-C score wave 1 0.00 0.05 1.00 0.91–1.09 0.95 0.99
Child’s age (months) 0.01 0.27 1.01 0.59–1.71 0.99 0.99
Constant − 3.85 3.10 0.02 0.00–9.32 0.22 N/A
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AUDIT-C alcohol use disorders identification test alcohol consumption questions, SE standard error, CI confidence interval

#Higher scores indicate lower income

*Benjamini–Hochberg method

Discussion

Maternal alcohol and tobacco intake while breastfeeding did not impact ADHD or ASD risk in either sample group or time point. Likewise, prenatal alcohol and tobacco, child’s age, sex and birthweight, mother’s age and education, combined family income, breastfeeding duration, and breastfeeding group were not related to ADHD or ASD.

Given these findings, the suggestion that alcohol and tobacco use during lactation may impact these diagnoses was not supported. While there is no directly comparative prior research, prenatal tobacco exposure has previously been associated with ADHD (Dong et al., 2018; Huang et al., 2018; Wetherill et al., 2018). Although it might be expected that smoking tobacco while breastfeeding may also increase ADHD risk, prior studies have not found breastfeeding tobacco to be related to cognitive, academic or developmental health (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a, 2020b). Use of tobacco during lactation may therefore be less impactful on infant development than prenatal exposure.

The failure of the current analyses to confirm associations between maternal tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy and ADHD (Dong et al., 2018; Huang et al., 2018; Wetherill et al., 2018), may also reflect weaknesses in the retrospective nature of LSAC pregnancy variables. It has been suggested that these retrospective variables may result in inaccurate measures (Gibson & Porter, 2018). Additionally, questionnaires were the only methods used for recording all tobacco and alcohol variables. While no relationship between prenatal tobacco and alcohol and ASD was identified, previous studies have been mixed (Gallagher et al., 2018; Gardener et al., 2009; Jung et al., 2017; Rosen et al., 2015; Singer et al., 2017; Tang et al., 2015), and no consensus is available.

Wave 1 smoking measures and AUDIT-C scores were contemporaneous for babies who were actively breastfeeding at Wave 1, but not for infants who had stopped breastfeeding by study entry. Although current or prior breastfeeding status was included to control for this confound, it may still have impacted results.

Given the greater likelihood of mothers with ADHD to consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes (Wilens et al., 2011) and genetic factors (Barkley et al., 1019), the failure to include maternal ASD and ADHD status is a limitation. Other potential control variables including, but not limited to, intrauterine growth restriction and gestational age, may have further improved analyses (Joseph et al., 2017). Furthermore, alcohol and tobacco use were considered individually, and the possibility of additive effects when both were used together was not considered.

The timing of alcohol consumption relative to feeding was also not measured. This, combined with maternal weight, may have allowed calculations of ethanol in breastmilk (Ho et al., 2001). It is therefore not known how much ethanol was available for consumption by the infant (Ho et al., 2001). The amount of ethanol consumed by the infant may influence results if potential negative effects are due solely to neurotoxic effects of alcohol on infants. There are, however, other potential mechanisms by which maternal alcohol consumption while breastfeeding could impact infant development. Use of alcohol during lactation can reduce milk production alter infant’s feeding and sleeping patterns (Giglia & Binns, 2006; Haastrup et al., 2014; Mennella, 2001; Mennella et al., 2005). Alcohol consumption while breastfeeding could therefore indirectly impact infants by reducing their nutritional intake, or altering their sleep.

Future studies should address these confounds. Contemporaneous measures of alcohol and tobacco use may be beneficial, combined with measuring the time between alcohol consumption and infant feeding. Inclusion of maternal ADHD or ASD as a control variable may also improve analyses.

An additional consideration is the potential impact of the 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on use of alcohol and tobacco. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions on daily living may have impacted the drinking and smoking habits of some individuals. While a substantial number of people have reported drinking and smoking the same or less, approximately 14–31% and 6–19% of people have reported an increase in alcohol and tobacco intake respectively (Bommele et al., 2020; Chodkiewicz et al., 2020; Elling et al., 2020; Kim et al., 2020; Neill et al., 2020; Panagiotidis et al., 2020). For women breastfeeding infants during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in alcohol or tobacco consumption may result in greater risk of negative outcomes for children (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a). Had the current study been conducted during the pandemic, a different pattern of alcohol and tobacco use could have impacted results.

Maternal use of alcohol or tobacco were not related to ADHD or ASD at either age or in either sample group. Although there is no direct comparison, this is not consistent with meta-analyses that have found prenatal tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption to be associated with a diagnosis of ADHD (Dong et al., 2018; Huang et al., 2018; Wetherill et al., 2018). The lack of contemporaneous measurement of alcohol and tobacco use in the group of babies who had ceased breastfeeding at study entry was a limitation, as was the lack of maternal ADHD or ASD diagnosis as control variables, and the failure to measure alcohol timing relative to feeding. Future studies should seek to address these confounds. Assessing associations between maternal use of alcohol and tobacco while breastfeeding on a wider range of cognitive, developmental and health outcomes in children may also be beneficial.

Although alcohol and tobacco intake while breastfeeding was not associated with ADHD or ASD, alcohol and tobacco may still be harmful children or interfere with the lactation process if consumed while breastfeeding (Gibson & Porter, 2018, 2020a; Napierala et al., 2016). The safest option for breastfeeding women may be to abstain from alcohol and tobacco.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 27 kb) (27.9KB, docx)

Acknowledgments

This paper uses unit record data from Growing Up in Australia, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. The study is conducted in partnership between the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The findings and views reported in this paper are those of the author and should not be attributed to DSS, AIFS or the ABS. Louisa Gibson was also in receipt of a Research Training Program scholarship from the Australian Government Department of Education.

Funding

This study did not receive any funding.

Declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

Ethics approval was obtained from Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (ref no. 5201822862659, 7th April 2017).

Footnotes

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Contributor Information

Louisa Gibson, Email: louisa.gibson@hdr.mq.edu.au.

Melanie Porter, Email: melanie.porter@mq.edu.au.

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