In summary, chronic ethanol intake with
either control protein or low protein diet
lowered maternal weight gain, and pup
birth weight as compared to the outcome of
beagles given sucrose with either protein
diet. When compared with sucrose treat
ment, pups of mothers given ethanol and
control protein diet had significantly shorter
lengths and smaller head circumferences. In
comparison to sucrose treatment, ethanol
intake with either protein diet led to higher
hematocrit values, lower albumin levels,
and lower plasma calcium concentrations
during pregnancy. When compared to con
trol protein treatment throughout gestation,
low dietary protein dramatically lowered
RBC folate levels; when low protein treat
ment was combined with ethanol intake,
RBC folate levels were prevented from rising
to normal levels by the 9th wk of pregnancy.
The importance of these maternal nutrient
changes on the mechanism of fetal and new
born growth retardation will require further
study.