313. Caffeine during pregnancy can lead to shorter children
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Pregnant women who drink even small amounts of caffeine before giving birth tend to have babies who turn out to be shorter as children. In a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that children of mothers who consumed caffeine during pregnancy were shorter at age 4 than the children whose mothers did not consume caffeinated beverages and foods. This gap in height increased every year until age 8. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends keeping caffeine consumption under 200 milligrams per day while pregnant, or between one and two cups of coffee. But in this study, as little as half a cup of coffee each day led to shorter children.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
