Miscarriages related to caffeine
Based on findings from a recent study of 1,063 women, the intake of more than 200 mg of caffeine may double a woman’s chance of miscarriage. That is the amount of caffeine found in two cups of coffee or five 12 ounce cans of soda.
Researchers associated with the Kaiser Permanente Health Care System noted that women should try to cut out their caffeine intake as soon as they find out that they are pregnant. Not only should they limit their caffeine during early pregnancy, but caffeine should be limited if a woman is even trying to become pregnant because the first 20-40 days after an egg is fertilized is a key time in its development, as a result harm could occur before the pregnancy is confirmed. Based on these findings, caffeine should be avoided through the first five months of pregnancy and then limited or avoided the remaining weeks of gestation.
Caffeine is speculated to decrease blood flow to the placenta and may also affect cell development. Caffeine crosses the placenta barrier easily and once in the fetus it may stay there longer because of the underdeveloped metabolic system of the fetus according to the study’s lead investigator, Dr. De-Kun Li.
The study adjusted for things such as age, race, income level and smoking, alcohol, hot tub use or previous miscarriage.
No conclusions could be drawn regarding smaller intakes of caffeine (i.e. less than 200 mg). Furthermore, the risk is associated with the caffeine itself and not other chemical components in coffee as caffeine intake from non-coffee sources showed the same increased risk of miscarriage.
The study is published in this months issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
About the Author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
