Adverse reproductive effects of beer drinking.

This short communication represents a systematic review of the literature about beer drinking during gestation. A Medline search was undertaken of articles based on the criterion that beer and pregnancy were in the abstract and central to the article. Manuscripts were to be published in English in peer review medical journals from 1981 to 2006. Beer is a commonly consumed alcoholic beverage among reproductive-age adults. Beer drinking males have an increased risk of contributing to pregnancy waste. Women consume beer before and after pregnancy recognition. Binge drinking appears to be a common drinking behavior, and those who binge drink have an increased risk of impaired fetal growth and offspring behavior. Beer consumption by lactating women might temporarily impair motor function of nursing infants. Evidence for potentiation of beer effects by congeners and by simultaneous use of substances of abuse is inconclusive.