Posted on 10/15/2024 9:21:41 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A University of Queensland-led study has failed to find any strong links between drinking coffee during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental difficulties in children, but researchers are advising expectant mothers to continue following medical guidelines on caffeine consumption.
Dr. Gunn-Helen Moen and led an in-depth genetic analysis of data from tens of thousands of families in Norway.
"The participants also answered questions about their child's development until the age of 8, including their social skills, motor skills, language and indicators of ADHD and autism. Our analysis found no link between coffee consumption during pregnancy and children's neurodevelopmental difficulties."
The researchers said physiological changes during pregnancy prevent caffeine breaking down easily and it can cross the placenta and reach the fetus, where there are no enzymes to metabolize it.
Caffeine accumulation was thought to impact the developing fetal brain, but Dr. Moen said previous observational studies couldn't account for other environmental factors such as alcohol, cigarette smoke or poor diet.
"We used a method called Mendelian randomization, which uses genetic variants that predict coffee drinking behavior and can separate out the effect of different factors during pregnancy," she said. "It mimics a randomized controlled trial without subjecting pregnant mothers and their babies to any ill effects. The benefit of this method is the effects of caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes and diet can be separated in the data, so we can look solely at the impact of caffeine on the pregnancy."
The researchers used genetic analysis to understand complex traits and diseases especially in early life, with a previous study by Dr. Moen showing that drinking coffee in pregnancy did not affect birth weight, risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.
The researchers emphasize the importance of following advice from health care providers to limit caffeine consumption during pregnancy, as caffeine may influence other pregnancy outcomes.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
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Whew, that’s a relief, I guess. A half-century ago, I probably was probably hit (in utero) with 6 cups of Taster’s Choice on the daily.
My sympathies to most pregnant women. All my life, I have heard contradictory advice given to them by ‘experts’, and as a man, I’m barely paying attention to their situation. I suspect most women learn to act as though they are politely listening to the latest unrequested advisor, then, disregard whatever was last said. Do what works for you and your immediate family.
*my double “probably” contradicts the study, lol.
Mymomdrankalottacoffee whenIwasinthewomb!
IthinkIturnedoutOK.
DidImentionthatIlovecoffee?
>> I suspect most women learn to act as though they are politely listening to the latest unrequested advisor, then, disregard whatever was last said.
ROFL! ^^^^ THIS ^^^^
Pretty much the same here. And I also have a high tolerance for caffeine. Though it will help wake me up if I need to drive or something, people are occasionally shocked that I can follow a double espresso with a nap if I feel like it.
Regards,
This week:
COFFEE GOOD!.............
A lot of moms of us born in the late 50’s and early 60’s drank and smoked.
In Taiwan and South China, a common superstition is that drinking coffee during pregnancy makes the child’s skin dark.
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