Effect of caffeine on rat offspring from treated dams

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given caffeine at 1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 g/kg diet during gestation and lactation. At birth, half of the pups from control and treated rats at each dose level were exchanged and cross fostered. Two litters were produced by each animal from each of the experimental groups. Caffeine at dietary concentrations of 0.5 and 0.25 g/kg throughout gestation and lactation had no significant effect on birth weight, litter size or development. There was also no effect at these doses following treatment during either gestation alone, or lactation alone. At 1.0 g/kg there was a slight reduction of birth weight, as well as a trend towards lower weight gain in litters from dams fed the test diet throughout gestation and lactation.