Review: Higher caffeine intake during pregnancy increases risk of low birth weight

摘要

Context: Caffeine is a widely consumed psychoactive substance. Although controversy exists concerning some implications of caffeine consumption during pregnancy, questions concerning maternal caffeine and low birth weight have been largely settled. This study adds further weight to an otherwise consistent conclusion. Using meta-analysis involving 13 prospective studies consisting of! more than 100 000 participants from Europe, Canada or the USA, Chen and colleagues assessed the dose-response relationship between maternal caffeine consumption and risk of low birth weight (<2500 g). The analyses indicated that for each 100 mg/ day increment in maternal caffeine intake (about one cup of coffee) there was a 13% higher risk of low birth weight.