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Even
consuming low amounts of caffeine during pregnancy may
increase the risk of having a low birth weight baby, new
research shows. 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. The researchers 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. 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. |