A new study has found that caffeine is unsafe for pregnant women and those trying to conceive, and its lead is calling for a “radical revision” of guidelines.
Prof Jack James, of Reykjavik University in Iceland, drew his research from 48 studies into miscarriages, stillbirths, low birth weights, early labour, and childhood acute leukaemia and obesity.
Thirty-two of the studies found that caffeine significantly increased risks of all these outcomes, except for early labour and childhood obesity.
But some did find significant association between caffeine consumption and overweight children.
The new findings could be a blow to the global caffeine industry, which in 2018 was estimated to be worth $202 billion.
“Chronic exposure to any chemical during pregnancy is cause for concern,” said Dr James, whose study was published in the British Medical Journal.
“There should be no exception simply because that chemical, caffeine, happens to be widely consumed.”
“Caffeine is a habit-forming substance of no nutritional value. If anything, its widespread consumption suggests that it should be given special attention.”
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