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Maternal Caffeine Consumption during Pregnancy and Behavioral Disorders in 11-Year-Old Offspring: A Danish National
Susanne Hvolgaard Mikkelsen1, Carsten Obel1, Jørn Olsen2
1Department of Public Health, Section for General Medical Practice, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Insights
High maternal caffeine intake from coffee and tea during pregnancy is linked to behavioral disorders in children. This includes hyperactivity-inattention and anxiety-depressive disorders, suggesting potential fetal brain programming.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy is a common practice.
- Potential effects of caffeine on fetal development and long-term offspring neurobehavior are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal caffeine intake from coffee and tea during pregnancy and the risk of behavioral disorders in offspring.
Main Methods:
- A large cohort study (n=47,491) using the Danish National Birth Cohort.
- Maternal caffeine consumption (coffee/tea) assessed at 15 and 30 weeks gestation.
- Offspring behavioral disorders assessed at age 11 using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire.
Main Results:
- High maternal caffeine consumption (≥8 cups/day) from coffee or tea at 15 weeks gestation was associated with increased risks of various behavioral disorders.
- Specific associations included hyperactivity-inattention, conduct-oppositional, anxiety-depressive, and general psychiatric disorders.
- Increased risk of hyperactivity-inattention was dose-dependent with caffeine consumption at 15 weeks gestation.
Conclusions:
- High maternal caffeine intake during early pregnancy is linked to behavioral disorders in offspring.
- Caffeine exposure may impact fetal brain development, potentially programming for later behavioral issues.
- The fetal brain appears more sensitive to caffeine at 15 weeks gestation compared to 30 weeks.
Objective:
To examine the association between maternal caffeine consumption from coffee and tea during pregnancy and offspring behavioral disorders.
Study Design:
We studied 47 491 children enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort between 1996 and 2002. Data on maternal coffee and tea consumption was collected at 15 and 30 weeks of gestation. When the child was 11 years old, the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire was filled in by children, parents, and teachers. We estimated risk ratios (RRs) for offspring behavioral disorders.
Results:
At 15 weeks of gestation 3% and 4% of the pregnant women consumed ≥8 cups/d of coffee or tea, respectively. Maternal coffee consumption ≥8 cups/d at 15 weeks of gestation was associated with increased risk of hyperactivity-inattention disorder (RR 1.47; 95% CI 1.18-1.83), conduct-oppositional disorders (RR 1.22; 95% CI 1.01-1.48), and any psychiatric disorder (RR 1.23; 95% CI 1.08-1.40). Maternal tea consumption ≥8 cups/d at 15 weeks of gestation was associated with increased risk of anxiety-depressive disorders (RR 1.28; 95% CI 1.09-1.52) and any psychiatric disorder (RR 1.24; 95% CI 1.11-1.40). An increased risk of hyperactivity-inattention disorder was observed with increasing daily caffeine consumption at 15 weeks of gestation.
Conclusion:
High maternal caffeine consumption from coffee and tea at 15 weeks of gestation was associated with behavioral disorders in 11-year-old offspring. We hypothesize that caffeine exposure may affect the fetal brain and program for behavioral disorders later in life. The fetal brain seems to be more sensitive to caffeine exposure at 15 weeks of pregnancy compared with 30 weeks of gestation.
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