Researchers say there’s no safe level of caffeine consumption for those who are expecting or trying for a baby and they discovered the mind-altering substance is linked to an increased chance of miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and leukaemia.
It may also increase the chances of childhood obesity.
NHS guidelines say 200mg of caffeine a day, which is equal to two cups of instant coffee will not cause harm. However, other health officials such as the European Food Safety Authority and the American and UK Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advise limiting caffeine but say that it doesn’t have to be erased altogether.
But Professor Jack James, from Reykjavik University, in Iceland, has called for the advice to be entirely altered following his evaluation.
He examined 48 earlier studies from the past two decades that studied the impact of caffeine on pregnancy outcomes.
Any caffeine risks harming the baby but the risks increase as more is consumed, the study suggests.
Even 200mg a day seemed to increase the risk of miscarriage by up to 28 per cent and stillbirth by up to 38 per cent.
Professor James said current evidence doesn’t support assumptions about safe levels of maternal caffeine consumption and the increasing scientific evidence supports advice to pregnant women and women considering pregnancy to sidestep caffeine.
The experts acknowledge women who consume caffeine may be more likely to have other unhealthy addictions, such as smoking.
Some experts, however, strongly disagree with the findings of the study and claim that caffeine has been in the human diet for a long time and that various substances found in normal diets can also be dangerous to pregnancies.
Caffeine is found naturally in some foods and beverages, such as tea, coffee and chocolate. It’s also added to some energy drinks, cold and flu medications and some soft beverages.
Doctors warn many substances in a normal diet can be dangerous in high dosages and there’s little indication a small amount of caffeine is unhealthy and Dr Daghni Rajasingham, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said the conclusions of the study add to the large body of evidence that supports limited caffeine consumption throughout pregnancy.
However, pregnant women don’t need to totally cut out caffeine as it’s suggested and just because the safe limit isn’t known, it doesn’t mean it can’t be safely consumed.
If a single cup of coffee made a difference we would have billions of cases around the globe in the last few decades, since virtually every pregnant woman in modern history has had either consumed coffee or tea throughout their pregnancy and it makes you question how the human race has lasted this long before scientists began telling us what to do.
Who finances these ludicrous findings, and what are pregnant women expected to drink now – water? And we appear to be getting contradictory advice on what’s safe to eat and drink but the best guiding principle in life is everything in moderation.
And if we took any notice of all this foolishness, we would all be suffering – have you seen the state of people today? Coffee and tea are the least of our problems, with sugar-filled beverages and alcoholic drinks being more of a problem, along with Genetically Modified Foods.
And if it was as dangerous as they’re saying it is, the population would be half the size and I wonder how much money is being wasted doing this research? Loads of women drink Coffee and Tea throughout their pregnancy and guess what, they’re children are fine and these researchers should quit trying to intimidate people.
