A little coffee during pregnancy does not harm the baby’s brain

For many, the morning cup of coffee is non-negotiable. But for future mothers, this little ritual can be accompanied by doubts and worries: can coffee have an impact on the baby’s development? A new study from Norway, published in the journal Psychological Medicinehas just provided some reassuring answers to pregnant women who are asking the question.

Coffee consumption and neurodevelopment in children

Researchers from the Universities of Queensland and Oslo examined data from more than 71,000 Norwegian families to assess the effects of coffee consumption during pregnancy on children’s neurological development. In Scandinavia, where coffee consumption is one of the highest in the world, it is common for pregnant women to drink several cups a day. The objective was to see if the consumption habits of mothers during pregnancy could influence the neurodevelopment of their young, up to the age of 8 years.

At first glance, the results seemed to confirm the fears of many pregnant women: high coffee consumption was associated with neurodevelopmental difficulties in children, including problems with social communication, attention and hyperactivity. But when they dug deeper, the researchers discovered that most of these associations disappeared when they took into account other factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, education level or even income.

To go further, the team used a sophisticated genetic technique called “Mendelian randomization,” which can better isolate the effects of caffeine on child development based on genetic variants linked to coffee consumption. . “The idea is to ignore the effect of different factors during pregnancy, such as alcohol, tobacco or diet, and focus only on caffeine”specifies a press release. Not to mention, this approach mimics the effects of a controlled clinical trial without exposing mothers and babies to unnecessary risks.

200 to 300 mg of caffeine per day for pregnant women

As a result, genetic analysis only found “little evidence of a direct link between coffee consumption during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders in children”. A slight association with social communication difficulties was seen in eight-year-olds, but researchers believe factors other than coffee could be to blame.

Although no significant association has been found between coffee consumption and the baby’s neurodevelopment, it is nevertheless important not to overdo it. The results of this study are ultimately consistent with current health recommendations. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, for example, estimates that moderate caffeine consumption during pregnancy, i.e. less than 200 mg per day (the equivalent of two cups of filter coffee), does not present an increased risk of miscarriage. or premature birth. The World Health Organization, for its part, recommends a maximum of 300 mg of caffeine per day.