Study Shows Moderate Amounts of Caffeine Can Double Miscarri

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NaturalNews.com
Originally published February 29 2008

Article Link:
http://www.naturalnews.com/022747.html

Study Shows Moderate Amounts of Caffeine Can Double Miscarriage Risk
by Catherine Zoerb (see all articles by this author)

(NaturalNews) A recently released study shows that women who drink
moderate amounts of caffeine during their pregnancy can double their
chance of miscarriage. The study was published in The American Journal
of Obstetrics and Gynecology on January 21st. Dr. De-Kun Li, the lead
author and investigator in the study, found that women who consumed
200 milligrams or more per day significantly increased the probability
of miscarriage. 200 milligrams is equivalent to about two cups of
coffee. Other known risk factors of the mother were taken into
consideration, such as smoking habits and age of the mother.

The Keiser Permanente study monitored 1,063 women starting early in
their pregnancies. The women self reported their caffeine consumption.
Among women who did not consume any caffeine at all, the miscarriage
rate was 12.5 percent. Women who consumed 200 mg or more had a
miscarriage rate of 25.5 percent. There was also an increased risk for
women who consumed less than 200 mg, but Dr. Li says that the increase
is very small and not statistically significant. According to the
researchers, the increase in miscarriage was unrelated to the source
of the caffeine. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and sodas all caused the
same increase.

Caffeine is difficult for the fetus to metabolize, according to Dr.
Li. It can also decrease blood flow to the placenta, constrict
arteries, and influence cell development. He recommends that pregnant
women give up all caffeine for at least the first three to four months
of pregnancy. The majority of miscarriages happen in the first
trimester. "If, for whatever reason, they really can't do it, think of
cutting to one cup or switching to decaf," Dr. Li said. "Stopping
caffeine really doesn't have any downside."

Doctors have disagreed in the past on the effects of caffeine. Many Ob/
Gyns urge their patients to limit caffeine intake, but it is not an
across-the-board recommendation. There have been other studies, which
have linked caffeine to low birth weight, but experts disagree on the
significance of those findings.

Dr. Li's study addressed an important issue that had not been resolved
in previous studies. It is an accepted fact that women who experience
morning sickness are far less likely to miscarry. Hormonal changes
that cause nausea may contribute to a healthy pregnancy, some
researchers said this could cause confusion in caffeine studies. They
argued that women may consume less caffeine overall simply because
they feel sick. While caffeine studies may show that they did not
miscarry due to less caffeine, other researchers conclude that these
women had healthier pregnancies to begin with. Dr. Li claims that his
research team was able to determine that the risk came from caffeine,
and morning sickness can not be used to debunk his research.

There are no current official guidelines by the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists on the consumption of caffeine. Dr. Li
hopes that his study will change that.

About the author
Catherine Zoerb loves to read, write, and inform. She lives with her
husband, their roommate, and a mini-zoo of small animals in Wichita,
KS.

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