Caffeine Intake linked to Miscarriage Rates

Posted January 29th, 2008 by rayrubio

research: Miscarriage, Caffeine

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- New research out Monday may have expecting moms rethinking their drinking habits.

During pregnancy, caffeine can inhibit blood flow to the placenta.

1 of 2

A new study has found that pregnant women who consumed more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, equivalent to about two cups of coffee, had twice the risk of miscarriage as the women who consumed no caffeine at all. The findings are published in Monday's Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Previous studies have found similar results, but Dr. De-Kun Li, lead author and investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, is quick to point out the significance of his findings. "We were able to address the issue of if the increase is really due to caffeine or due to women changing their drinking patterns. Other studies have reported the same results but had some biases in the research."
HOW MUCH BUZZ?
Just how much is 200 milligrams of caffeine? We did the math for you.

0.
0. one to two cups of coffee (12 oz. serving)
0.
0. two to three cups of tea (12 oz. serving)
0.
0. one to three energy drinks
0.
0. about five cans of soda

Amounts are estimates; actual caffeine content may vary by brand
The Kaiser study looked at 1,063 women in the early stage of pregnancy. Among women who consumed no caffeine, the miscarriage rate was 12.5 percent. In comparison, 25.5 percent of women who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine a day miscarried. Although there was an increased risk for women who consumed fewer than 200 mg of caffeine a day, the lead investigator says the increase is not statistically significant.
Researchers say it made no difference whether the caffeine came from coffee, soda, tea or hot chocolate.
Caffeine is dangerous during pregnancy, Li said, because it can cross through the placenta to the fetus and can be difficult for the fetus to metabolize the caffeine. Caffeine may influence cell development and decrease blood flow to the placenta, he added. If arteries are constricted it may restrict blood flow which can result in miscarriage.
Dr. Jennifer Wu, a New York obstetrician who has no ties to this study, said the research is, "accurate and has found a definitive correlation between caffeine consumption and miscarriage." Wu says expecting moms should significantly decrease the intake of caffeine during pregnancy. Watch Dr. Wu discuss caffeine and pregnancy »
Health Library
0. MayoClinic.com: Understanding miscarriage

Current recommendations from the March of Dimes warn women not to exceed 300 milligrams of caffeine a day. Other groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, tell CNN they do not have a recommended guideline for caffeine consumption during pregnancy. Their Web site says, "There's no proof that small amounts of caffeine (for instance, one or two cups of coffee) harm the fetus."
Li hopes this study will lead ACOG and other organizations to reevaluate the current guidelines. E-mail to a friend

Hi just for interest In

On January 29th, 2008 dbetts says:

Hi just for interest
In pregnant women caffeine is also thought to be metabolised more slowly
The UK midwifery guidlines at the moment are above 300 mg which they have as ......

3 cups brewed/percolated
2 cups latte, espresso, cappuccino
6 cups tea
8 cans cola
8 (50 g) bars chocolate
Oxford Handbook of midwifery

d betts
http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz

Wow, 25.5% miscarriage rate

On January 30th, 2008 JasonBussell says:

Wow, 25.5% miscarriage rate seems like a lot. Were these all older women?
Jason Bussell
President - Illinois Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

25% sounds high

On February 4th, 2008 Ryan says:

is this a common Miscarriage rate? are there any other studies beeing published with this figure?

Miscarriage Rates

On February 4th, 2008 rayrubio says:

Clinical Miscarriage rates have been estimated to be as high as 50-80 % of all pregnancies in some studies, it's just that most of these are undocumented pregnancies - i.e. the period is only a few days late, and the woman doesn't even know she is pregnant. Human's are actually not very efficient breeders. Miscarriage rates due to aneuploidy (i.e. poor embryo quality) actually begin to go up significantly after age 28 (See "Clinical Gynecology, Endocrinology, & Infertility" Seventh Edition, by Spiroff & Fritz for graphs and data on this), and dietary toxins/stimulants probably only increase this rate.

Although I haven't seen the full study, my guess is that this study looked at females with documented pregnancies - i.e. yolk sac, fetal heart tones - and then compared miscarriage rates among caffeine users and non-caffeine users.

reducing miscarriages rates

On February 4th, 2008 dbetts says:

Hi
In two studies that looked at intervention ( one acupuncture for nausea and one support care for reoccurring miscarriages) the authors gave the estimated the rate of miscarriage at 11- 15 % - once you had pregnancy confirmed as viable at 8 weeks with ultrasound
Interestedly in both studies the actual rate of miscarriage went down - to 5 % in the acupuncture study (includes those receiving placebo and no treatment) and unexplained miscarriage reduced to 5 % in the support treatment group – it was 56% in the group that received normal care from their GP
So while practitioners may be wary of wanting to treat women in early pregnancy as acupuncturists we have a lot to offer these women – both in terms of the actual acupuncture treatment and emotional support – as its all part of the care we offer ….

d betts
http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz

Great Confidence Builder

On February 4th, 2008 Ryan says:

Thanks for those great stats ! seeing those really boosts my confidence working with pregnancy. I have talked to so many practitioners who do not want to treat pregnancy due to insecurity and fear. Once we have a handle on the base treatment plan for common obstetric conditions we truly can offer so much help.

Where can we find these articles you talked about Debra. I would love to take a closer look !

Thanks

research

On February 4th, 2008 dbetts says:

Hi
Yes sure
Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J. (2002). “Acupuncture to treat nausea and
vomiting in early pregnancy: a randomized trial”. Birth. 29(1):1-9.
Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J. (2002). “Pregnancy outcome following
women’s participation in a randomised controlled trial of acupuncture to
treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy”. Complement Ther Med.
10(2):78-83.
Liddell H. Pattison N. Zanderigo A. Recurrent Miscarriage – Out come After Supportive Care in Early pregnancy. Aust NZ J Obstet Gynaecol 1991:31:4: 3210

Totally agree that acupuncturists have so much to offer women during pregnancy – in the seminars spend a lot of time going through the research in medical journals looking how safe acupuncture is when compared to control groups for problems such as miscarriage, premature labour, still birth, breech, etc and how effective it is for so many of the problems in pregnancy that women are just expected to suffer with , back and pelvic pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, heart burn, constipation, haemorrhoids etc – the list goes on and on .. all conditions acupuncturists are happy to treat as part of their every day practice but reluctant to promote in pregnancy … and then there are the conditions specific to pregnancy that midwives are training in to use preparing women for birth, induction etc …a .missed opportunity both for acupuncturists to build their practices and to promote acupuncture as a profession within western medicine – it may take a while but once midwives (and even specialists) see results that are consistent (especially when they have medical markers like a blood test that changes dramatically, as in PIH and anaemia or conditions where they have no treatment to offer as in nausea and breech ) they become less resistant and more open …..
Anyway could go on and on about this but its all in the book …so please do use this information and treat those women!

d betts
http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz