Caffeine intake during pregnancy, late miscarriage and stillbirth
Open accessAbstract
Caffeine is a commonly consumed drug during pregnancy with the potential to affect the developing fetus. Findings from previous studies have shown inconsistent results. We recruited a cohort of 2,643 pregnant women, aged 18-45 years, attending two UK maternity units between 8 and 12 weeks gestation from September 2003 to June 2006. We used a validated tool to assess caffeine intake at different stages of pregnancy and related this to late miscarriage and stillbirth, adjusting for confounders, including salivary cotinine as a biomarker of smoking status. There was a strong association between caffeine intake in the first trimester and subsequent late miscarriage and stillbirth, adjusting for confounders. Women whose pregnancies resulted in late miscarriage or stillbirth had higher caffeine intakes (geometric mean = 145 mg/day; 95% CI: 85-249) than those with live births (103 mg/day; 95% CI: 98-108). Compared to those consuming < 100 mg/day, odds ratios increased to 2.2 (95% CI: 0.7-7.1) for 100-199 mg/day, 1.7 (0.4-7.1) for 200-299 mg/day, and 5.1 (1.6-16.4) for 300+ mg/day (P (trend) = 0.004). Greater caffeine intake is associated with increases in late miscarriage and stillbirth. Despite remaining uncertainty in the strength of association, our study strengthens the observational evidence base on which current guidance is founded.
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In the CARE Study Group, caffeine intake was associated with an increased risk of late miscarriage or stillbirth.
“Caffeine intake was also associated with an increased risk of late miscarriage or stillbirth (Greenwood et al., 2010).”
From Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine (2015) · cites this paper as Greenwood et al., 2010
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References 25 · Cited by 74
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food. Consumer prod- ucts and the environment. Statement on the review of caffeine. Department of Health; 1984.
- Authors
- Greenwood, D. C., Alwan, N., Boylan, S., Cade, J. E., Charvill, J., Chipps, K. C., Cooke, M. S., Dolby, V. A., Hay, A. W. M., Kassam, S., Kirk, S. F. L., Konje, J. C., Potdar, N., Shires, S., Simpson, N., Taub, N., Thomas, J. D., Walker, J., White, K. L. M., & Wild, C. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Leeds (GB)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Centre international de recherche sur le cancer (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Greenwood, Darren C.
- ORCID
- Venue
- European Journal of Epidemiology
- Published
- 2010-03-21
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 275-280
- ISSN
- 0393-2990 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-7284
- OpenAlex
- W2017442773
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 5.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester) (submittedVersion)
- Trinity's Access to Research Output (TARA) (Trinity College Dublin) (submittedVersion)
- FIU - Digital Commons (Florida International University) (submittedVersion)
- Florida International University Digital Commons (Florida International University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Coffee research and impacts
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy and Medication Impact
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Keywords
- caffeine consumption, pregnancy, late miscarriage, stillbirth, first trimester, fetal development, maternal smoking, salivary cotinine, caffeine dose-response
- MeSH terms
- Abortion, Spontaneous, Adolescent, Adult, Caffeine, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Fetus, United Kingdom, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Middle Aged, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Logistic Models, Stillbirth, Young Adult
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