Study: Caffeine may boost miscarriage risk

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Danielle Dellorto

CNN

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- New research out Monday may have expecting moms rethinking their drinking habits.

A new study has found that pregnant women who consumed more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, equivalent to about two cups of coffee, had twice the risk of miscarriage as the women who consumed no caffeine at all. The findings are published in Monday's Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Previous studies have found similar results, but Dr. De-Kun Li, lead author and investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, is quick to point out the significance of his findings. "We were able to address the issue of if the increase is really due to caffeine or due to women changing their drinking patterns. Other studies have reported the same results but had some biases in the research."

The Kaiser study looked at 1,063 women in the early stage of pregnancy. Among women who consumed no caffeine, the miscarriage rate was 12.5 percent. In comparison, 25.5 percent of women who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine a day miscarried. Although there was an increased risk for women who consumed fewer than 200 mg of caffeine a day, the lead investigator says the increase is not statistically significant.

Researchers say it made no difference whether the caffeine came from coffee, soda, tea or hot chocolate.

Caffeine is dangerous during pregnancy, Li said, because it can cross through the placenta to the fetus and can be difficult for the fetus to metabolize the caffeine. Caffeine may influence cell development and decrease blood flow to the placenta, he added. If arteries are constricted it may restrict blood flow which can result in miscarriage.

Dr. Jennifer Wu, a New York obstetrician who has no ties to this study, said the research is, "accurate and has found a definitive correlation between caffeine consumption and miscarriage." Wu says expecting moms should significantly decrease the intake of caffeine during pregnancy.

Current recommendations from the March of Dimes warn women not to exceed 300 milligrams of caffeine a day. Other groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, tell CNN they do not have a recommended guideline for caffeine consumption during pregnancy. Their Web site says, "There's no proof that small amounts of caffeine (for instance, one or two cups of coffee) harm the fetus."

Li hopes this study will lead ACOG and other organizations to reevaluate the current guidelines.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/...iage/index.html

[Alex+R 0]

Didn't people basically already know that?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Didn't people basically already know that?

This is the first time I've heard of it. Jinky drinks Coke and I've gotten her to cut back a little, but I was mostly worried about the effects of the HFCS on her blood sugar. She has been drinking decaffeinated coffee from time to time.

[JenT 0]

I'm in the "this is news?" camp.... been that way since my first pregnancy and she's 16 now....

[JVKn'CVO 11]

This is news to me. does hot chocolate really have caffeine on it?

Saludos,

Caro

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm in the "this is news?" camp.... been that way since my first pregnancy and she's 16 now....

Hmmm...perhaps I'm not reading the right pregnancy info. All I remember reading is that it's best to cut back if you're a coffee drinker while being pregnant, but nothing definitive. While a 12oz can of Coke only has 34 mg of caffeine, I can imagine that a soda drinker could easily drink the equivalent of 4 cans a day which is still under 200 mg.

Edited January 21, 2008 by Mister Fancypants

[Alex+R 0]

Didn't people basically already know that?

This is the first time I've heard of it. Jinky drinks Coke and I've gotten her to cut back a little, but I was mostly worried about the effects of the HFCS on her blood sugar. She has been drinking decaffeinated coffee from time to time.

LOL, I can't wait to see what happens first, baby is born, or Jinky beats up Steven for driving her crazy with backseat pregnancy.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Didn't people basically already know that?

This is the first time I've heard of it. Jinky drinks Coke and I've gotten her to cut back a little, but I was mostly worried about the effects of the HFCS on her blood sugar. She has been drinking decaffeinated coffee from time to time.

LOL, I can't wait to see what happens first, baby is born, or Jinky beats up Steven for driving her crazy with backseat pregnancy.

Hey! Backseat pregnancy?!?! It takes two to drive this puppy!

This is news to me. does hot chocolate really have caffeine on it?

Saludos,

Caro

Just 14 mg.

http://wilstar.com/caffeine.htm

I'd ask your OB/Gyn, but I don't think you have to completely eliminate caffeine from your diet.

Edited January 21, 2008 by Mister Fancypants

[almaty 19]

i heard that....sadly, i see allot of chopf##ks..who have knocked their girl friend up..making mega expressos for them

Edited January 21, 2008 by almaty

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i heard that....sadly, i see allot of chopf##ks..who have knocked their girl friend up..making mega expressos for them

In an attempt to have a miscarriage?

[Ban Hammer 14,661]

Didn't people basically already know that?

This is the first time I've heard of it. Jinky drinks Coke and I've gotten her to cut back a little, but I was mostly worried about the effects of the HFCS on her blood sugar. She has been drinking decaffeinated coffee from time to time.

LOL, I can't wait to see what happens first, baby is born, or Jinky beats up Steven for driving her crazy with backseat pregnancy.

oh dayum i'd love to see that on youtube

[mawilson 2,133]

Great news! If abortion is outlawed, there's always coffee, tea and hot chocolate to drink.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Great news! If abortion is outlawed, there's always coffee, tea and hot chocolate to drink.

There have been many methods of inducing an abortion through ingesting. That's why it should always be legal. If a woman is going to abort, it should at least be safe.

Originally, lawmakers believed that abortion was mainly utilized by unmarried women to avoid disgrace. But by the late 1830s and early 1840s, many in the middle class sanctioned abortion and abortifacients became a commercial business. "Regulators" or "preventative powders" came in the form of pills or fluid extracts for a woman to induce an abortion in the privacy of her home.

http://www.coachlightpress.com/bygone/contraception.shtml

[HAL 9000 96]

Besides the physiological effects alluded to in this study, caffeine is a suspected DNA mutagen, acting as a substitute base for Uracil, thereby 'nicking' the DNA strand into fragmentation. This may be one factor behind caffeine addicts constant shakes beyond the ebb and tide of muscle movements associated with a caffeine rush.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

You mean if I get knocked up I will have to lay off the booze AND the coffee?

No wonder I haven't had kids yet!