Additional preclinical research indicates that supplementation with beta-carotene (provitamin A), nicotinamide (the amide of vitamin B3), and zinc all may reduce alcohol’s effects on fetal development, including cell loss, fetal dysmorphology, and cognitive impairments (reviewed in Idrus and Thomas 2011). These animal studies highlight the protective effects that nutrient supplementation can have on development during alcohol exposure. Improving the nutritional status of pregnant women, especially those who consume alcohol, will likely result in improved outcomes in offspring.
