A recent study led by the University of Queensland has revealed no significant associations between coffee consumption during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental challenges in children. However, researchers advise expectant mothers to adhere to existing medical guidelines regarding caffeine intake.
Dr. Gunn-Helen Moen and PhD student Shannon D’Urso from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) conducted an extensive genetic analysis utilizing data from tens of thousands of families in Norway, a country known for its high coffee consumption.
“Scandinavians are some of the biggest coffee consumers in the world, averaging at least four cups a day, with minimal stigma surrounding coffee consumption during pregnancy,” Dr. Moen noted.
The researchers examined genetic data from mothers, fathers, and their children, in addition to administering questionnaires regarding the parents’ coffee consumption both prior to and during pregnancy. Participants also provided insights into their child’s developmental progress up to the age of eight, including assessments of social, motor, and language skills.
The analysis revealed no correlation between maternal coffee consumption during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental difficulties in children.
The researchers explained that physiological changes in pregnant women can impede the breakdown of caffeine, allowing it to cross the placenta and reach the fetus, which lacks the enzymes necessary for metabolizing caffeine. While caffeine accumulation was previously thought to potentially impact fetal brain development, Dr. Moen emphasized that prior observational studies failed to account for other environmental influences, such as alcohol, tobacco use, or poor nutrition.
To address these variables, the research employed a method known as Mendelian randomization. This technique utilizes genetic variants that predict coffee consumption behavior, thereby isolating the effects of caffeine from other influencing factors during pregnancy.
“It mimics a randomized controlled trial without putting pregnant mothers and their babies at risk,” Dr. Moen explained. “This method allows us to differentiate the effects of caffeine from alcohol, cigarettes, and diet, enabling us to focus solely on caffeine’s impact during pregnancy.”
The team’s previous studies have similarly shown that coffee consumption during pregnancy does not affect birth weight, miscarriage risk, or stillbirth rates. Despite these findings, the researchers stress the importance of adhering to healthcare providers’ recommendations to limit caffeine intake during pregnancy, as it may influence other pregnancy-related outcomes.
The research team aims to apply similar methodologies to further explore the genetic and environmental factors influencing neurodiversity and their effects on brain development during pregnancy.
Collaborating with international experts, including Professor Alexandra Havdahl from the PsychGen Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the team seeks to broaden the understanding of how various factors contribute to brain development.
This research utilized data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), a comprehensive study that has provided valuable insights into child development and parental influences.
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