 Caffeine in Pregnancy Associated With Low Birth Weight Risk
Women need not be frightened but should limit consumption of stimulant, experts say
Source: HealthDay by Robert Preidt Date: 11/13/08
(United Kingdom) -- Even consuming low amounts of caffeine
British researchers studied 2,645 pregnant women, average age 30, with low-risk pregnancies.
Their
average caffeine intake during pregnancy was 159 milligrams a day, much
lower than the 300 mg/day recommended by the U.K.'s Food Standards
Agency. Tea was the main source of caffeine (62 percent), followed by
coffee (14 percent), cola (12 percent), chocolate (8 percent), and soft
drinks (2 percent).
Most of the women's babies were born at full
term with an average birth weight of 3,450 grams (around the U.K.
average), while 4 percent of the babies were born prematurely, 0.3
percent were stillborn, and 0.7 percent were miscarried late.
Dr.
Justin Konje and colleagues at the University of Leicester and the
University of Leeds concluded that higher caffeine intake was
associated with increased risk of low birth weight. Compared to women
who consumed less than 100 mg/day of caffeine (equivalent of less than
one cup of coffee), the risk of having a lower birth weight baby
increased by 20 percent for women who had 100-199 mg/day, by 50 percent
for those who consumed 200-299 mg/day, and by 40 percent for over 300
mg/day.
Caffeine consumption of more than 100 mg/day was
associated with a fetal weight reduction of 34-59 grams in the first
trimester, 24-74g in the second trimester, and 66-89g in the third
trimester. The effect was significant and consistent across all
trimesters with caffeine consumption of more than 200 mg/day. The link
between caffeine and low birth weight was strongest in women who
metabolized caffeine more quickly.
Pregnant women should
significantly reduce their caffeine consumption before and during
pregnancy, the researchers said. The study was published online in the
British Medical Journal.
The study reinforces concerns that
caffeine may affect fetal growth, but the authors' warning could
unnecessarily frighten women who've consumed some caffeine during
pregnancy, Professor Jorn Olsen, of the department of epidemiology,
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health, and a
colleague wrote in an accompanying editorial.
They did agree
that pregnant women should reduce their caffeine consumption, but must
not replace it with unhealthy alternatives such as alcoholic drinks or
soft drinks full of sugar.
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