Recent studies from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences have revealed that parents who consistently misuse alcohol can transmit detrimental effects that heighten their offspring’s vulnerability to cancer — particularly in the liver.

Researchers in Dr. Michael Golding’s laboratory have previously indicated that paternal alcohol consumption prior to conception can adversely influence fetal development, even as long as three months after abstaining from drinking. They have also established that alcohol consumption by either mothers or fathers can lead to premature aging symptoms in children, even when consuming alcohol within legal limits. 

The most recent results were elaborated in a recent publication featured in Aging and Disease.

“Our research indicates that parental alcohol use induces issues in the mitochondria of their offspring,” remarked Golding, a faculty member in the VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology. “If you visualize the mitochondria akin to a battery, parental alcohol consumption results in the ‘battery’ exhibiting abnormally low voltage. The malfunctioning mitochondria trigger inflammation, and excessive inflammation raises the risk of cancer development.

RELATED: Texas A&M Researcher Advocates for Men to Avoid Alcohol
For At Least Three Months Prior To Conception

 

As per Golding, the two organs in the body with the greatest number of mitochondria are the brain and the liver.

“Our findings show that if a person’s parents were chronic alcohol abusers, their risk of liver cancer increases, and if they encounter a carcinogen, they are more inclined to develop tumors compared to individuals whose parents did not consume alcohol,” he stated.

“Moreover, the repercussions are more severe if both parents consumed alcohol than if it was just one parent,” he commented.

Exposure to factors that promote inflammation — such as alcohol, processed goods, and high sugar intake — can occur both during childhood and later in life, potentially serving as a catalyst for earlier tumor onset than normal. 

This new discovery holds particular significance for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a condition resulting from parental alcohol intake that is characterized by atypical facial features, low birth weight and/or height, attention and hyperactivity disorders, and impaired coordination.

“Individuals with FASD should be given special attention regarding cancer screenings,” Golding advised. “If the usual screening age is in the 50s, consider screening those with FASD in their 40s to accommodate for their heightened vulnerability.

“It’s also crucial for both young people and adults with FASD to refrain from consuming alcohol, eating excessive processed foods, and steering clear of other possible inflammation triggers, given their elevated cancer risks,” he added.

Parental Alcohol Consumption and Fetal Development

This latest revelation is a segment of a broader initiative from Golding’s lab aimed at comprehending the ramifications of parental drinking patterns on fetal development, particularly concerning FASD.

Golding has earlier published studies affirming that a father’s drinking behavior is equally vital for fetal health as that of the mother, despite the fact that the standard diagnosis for FASD primarily concentrates on validating maternal alcohol consumption.

“For many years, there has been little to no consideration of paternal alcohol consumption,” Golding noted. “In the past five to eight years, we have begun to recognize that certain conditions showcase a pronounced paternal effect with respect to alcohol exposure and fetal development.”

RELATED: Children Can Inherit Signs of Early Aging
From Parents Who Misuse Alcohol, Researchers Discover

 

In a recent investigation, Golding’s lab uncovered that a father’s alcohol consumption can influence his sperm for up to three months following cessation of drinking, indicating that the timeline for sperm normalization is significantly longer than previously considered.

In another study, his lab revealed that alcohol misuse by either parent could lead children with FASD — particularly males — to develop symptoms of early aging, including elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular issues, arthritis, and early-onset dementia. 

“Traditionally, in pediatric healthcare, researchers and medical professionals have largely overlooked fathers, as it has long been presumed that a mother’s health background is more crucial to a child’s wellbeing,” Golding remarked. “Emerging research is demonstrating that the health of both parents is significant, and that a father’s health may even serve as a more accurate predictor of particular health issues.”

The article Parental Alcohol Use Linked To Increased Cancer Risk In Children, Texas A&M Researchers Find first appeared on Texas A&M Today.