Drinking coffee might not pose an increased risk for pregnancy-related complications, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Since they couldn’t ask pregnant women in the study to drink certain amounts of coffee, researchers at the University of Queensland used genetic analyses to mimic a randomized control trial analyzing the effects of coffee drinking behavior during pregnancy. Current guidelines recommend pregnant women drink less than two to three cups per day, but the researchers of this study stress that those guidelines were based on studies that didn’t separate the risks of other factors like diet, smoking or alcohol. They found that based on their genetic modeling, there was no greater risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth for women who drank coffee during their pregnancies. Women should discuss their coffee intake and other lifestyle factors with their doctors to best ensure the health of themselves and their babies.
Podcast (better-than-ever-daily): Play in new window | Download
