Men should go teetotal for six months before trying to have a baby in order to protect their offspring from birth defects, experts have warned.
And mothers-to-be should also try to abstain from alcohol for as long as a year in advance, scientists at China’s Central South University's School of Public Health have found.
The world's first study into the effect of men’s drinking on unborn children found boozing in the run-up to conception could raise the risks of heart problems by as much as 44%.
The risks involved with mothers-to-be drinking alcohol during pregnancy are well documented but the research - which compiled data from 55 studies dating back to 1991 - indicates that men hoping to have a baby should also lay off the sauce.
Author Dr Jiabi Qin, of Central South University in China, said of the findings: “When trying for a baby, men should not consume alcohol for at least six months.
“Although our analysis has limitations, for example the type of alcohol was not recorded, it does indicate men and women planning a family should give up alcohol.”
