Maternal coffee intake and the risk of bleeding in early pregnancy: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background: Caffeine can easily cross the placenta, and maternal caffeine intake, thus, has an effect on fetal growth. However, it is still unclear whether coffee consumption is an independent risk factor for bleeding in early pregnancy. The objective of this study was to examine the association between pre-pregnancy coffee consumption patterns and the risk of bleeding in early pregnancy. Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 3510 pregnant women from the Korean Pregnancy Outcome Study who underwent baseline examination and for whom the results of the pregnancy were available. Coffee consumption patterns before pregnancy were examined using a questionnaire. The participants were classified according to the frequency of coffee consumption into seldom (< 1 cup/week), light (< 1 cup/day), moderate (1 cup/day), and heavy coffee drinker (≥2 cups/day) groups. Bleeding in early pregnancy was defined as the occurrence of vaginal bleeding in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to examine the association between pre-pregnancy coffee consumption and the risk of bleeding in early pregnancy, after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption behavior, previous and current physical activity levels, stress levels, history of depression, antenatal depressive symptoms during the first trimester, type of emesis, parity, and the number of livebirths, stillbirths, miscarriages, and abortions.Results: Women who were light, moderate, and heavy coffee drinkers before pregnancy had adjusted ORs of 1.086, 1.225, and 1.358, respectively, for bleeding in early pregnancy. In a fully adjusted model, heavy coffee drinkers showed a significantly higher risk of bleeding in early pregnancy, even in women aged 35 years and younger (OR 1.680) and in those with a normal body mass index (OR 1.389), who were at relatively low risk for pregnancy-related complications. Conclusions: Our results showed that heavy coffee drinking was independently associated with a higher risk of bleeding in early pregnancy among pregnant Korean women, suggesting that caffeine intake before conception and during pregnancy should be reduced. Our study highlights the need for nutritional interventions for healthy coffee drinking among pregnant women in Korea.

Drinks and Food Caffeine Consumption and Factors Associated With Higher Intakes. A Cohort Study In Pregnant Women

“…This also happens in Asian pregnant women. Data from the Korean pregnant outcome study (KPOS) shows that before conception, 17% of women were moderate coffee drinkers (1cup/day) and 18% were heavy coffee drinkers ( 2 cups/day) [12]. It should be noted in our study that, from conception, chocolate is more consumed than tea, which was not happening in the preconception stage, and differs from the results of other European studies [7,28] where chocolate is slightly consumed during pregnancy.…”

“…Findings from observational studies and meta-analyses indicate that maternal caffeine consumption is reliably associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and/or small for gestational age, childhood acute leukemia and childhood overweight and obesity [10,11]. Recently, it has been associated in Korean pregnant women a higher risk of bleeding in early pregnancy among those with heavy coffee consumption (2 cups of coffee/day) before pregnancy [12].…”

Health Knowledge of Lifestyle-Related Risks during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study of Pregnant Women in Germany

“…Of the surveyed women, 63.0% estimated more than one cup of coffee per day during pregnancy as being harmless. Guidelines across the world are inconsistent in their recommendations regarding the amount of coffee intake during pregnancy [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 51 , 52 ]. Thus, the limited knowledge base on the safe amounts of coffee consumption during pregnancy may be a result of limited and inconsistent guidelines and recommendations [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ].…”

“…Results from another meta-analysis suggested a dose–response relationship between coffee consumption and the risk of pregnancy loss [ 19 ]. A recent study from Korea showed that even less than one cup of coffee (light coffee drinker) and one cup of coffee per day (moderate coffee drinker) during pregnancy are associated with a significantly increased risk of bleeding in early pregnancy [ 20 ]. Coffee intake above one cup per day during pregnancy was found to be associated with childhood acute myeloid leukemia [ 21 ].…”

Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol, Tobacco, and Coffee: Associated Congenital Complications and Adverse Birth Outcomes

“…Among South Korean populations, maternal coffee intake has been associated with increased risk of early pregnancy bleeding [ 18 ] and the risk of abortions [ 19 ], while abnormal (underweight, overweight, or obese) pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) has been associated with increased risk of preterm birth, preeclampsia, cesarean section deliveries, and gestational diabetes [ 19 ]. Thus, we hypothesize that certain maternal nutritional behaviors, including coffee consumption, dieting, and the consumption of junk foods are associated with increased risk of birth defects and/or congenital abnormalities in our study population.…”