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CAFFEINE AND RISK OF FETAL LOSS.

Animal studies suggest that caffeine interferes with fetal growth and promotes chromosomal aberrations, but the question of whether pregnant women should avoid caffeine has remained controversial. This case-control study evaluated caffeine use before and during pregnancy in 331 women who experienced fetal loss (medically confirmed spontaneous abortion or fetal death) and 993 controls who were at the same stage of pregnancy.

The amount of caffeine consumed before and during pregnancy significantly correlated with the risk for fetal loss: women who drank the equivalent of three or more cups of coffee per day before pregnancy had an odds ratio of 1.85, and women who consumed that amount during pregnancy had an odds ratio of 2.62. Multivariate analysis showed that the odds ratio for fetal loss increased by 1.22 for each 100 mg of caffeine ingested during pregnancy. (One cup of coffee has 107 mg.)

Comment: These findings indicate that pregnant women should keep caffeine intake to a minimum.

— TH Lee

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine January 7, 1994

Citation(s):

Infante-Rivard C et al. Fetal loss associated with caffeine intake before and during pregnancy. JAMA 1993 Dec 22 270 2940-2943.

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