Potential teratogenic and neurodevelopmental consequences of coffee and caffeine exposure: A review on human and animal data

Effects of discontinuing coffee intake on iron deficient Guatemalan toddlers' cognitive development and sleep

“…In observational studies, one has to rely on accurate measurement of coffee intake. Obtaining good data on the dose of coffee / caffeine can be difficult; there are differences in cup size, type (or strength) of coffee, type of beans, and method of preparation that can affect caffeine levels [9].…”

“…Postnatal coffee ingestion has been shown to influence brain function and brain chemistry in rodents [6,7]. Caffeine and the xanthines in coffee have been associated with greater reactivity and timidity in rodents and in humans [8], but these effects are much clearer in studies with rodents, when much higher dosages are administered [9]. A few experimental studies of caffeine intake by school-aged children, usually from sources other than coffee, suggest that moderate levels (e.g., 3 mg / kg / day) have relatively minor effects, whereas larger amounts (e.g., 10 mg / kg / day) can result in increased restlessness, excitability, and inattention [10][11][12][13].…”

Noninherited Risk Factors of Congenital Heart Defects in Offspring: A Revi

“…It is teratogenic in animal studies when administered at high concentrations. 49 In human, caffeine and its metabolites easily cross the placenta and reach the fetus. 50 Most studies on the human teratogenicity of caffeine have not shown an important effect.…”

Intake of caffeine and other methylxanthines during pregnancy and risk for adverse effects in pregnant women and their foetuses

“…Timson (1975), Kihlman (1977), Legator and Zimmering (1979), Tarka (1982), Rosenkranz and Ennever (1987), Kihlman and Andersson (1987), IARC (1991), andD'Ambrosio (1994). In addition, there are reviews on the teratogenic and antimutagenic effects of caffeine and the other methylxanthines (Clarke and Shankel, 1975;Nehlig and Debry, 1994b) The evaluations have utilised data from a number of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell culture model systems, as well as in vivo systems. They have investigated the effects of caffeine and the other methylxanthines alone or in combination with other physical and chemical agents on many aspects of cell division, chromosome stability, toxicity, and mutagenicity.…”

“…Malformations in rats are never observed at daily single doses below 50 mg caffeine/kg body weight, and rarely below 80-100 mg/kg body weight (James, 1991;Wilson and Scott, 1984). Mice seem to be somewhat more sensitive to caf-feine, with malformations being induced at a dose of about 50-75 mg caffeine/kg body weight (Wilson and Scott, 1984;Nehlig and Debry, 1994b).…”