Systematic Determination of Caffeine Plasma Concentrations at Birth in Preterm and Full-Term Infants

Hemodynamic effects of dietary caffeine, sleep restriction, and laboratory stress

“…More than 80% of the world's population ingests caffeine daily, and exposure is effectively life long (James, 1997). For most people, the first exposure to caffeine is in utero , because most women consume caffeine while pregnant and caffeine readily crosses the placenta (Dumas et al, 1982). Most children consume caffeine, at least sporadically, with patterns of use tending to consolidate during adolescence and early adulthood (James, 1991).…”

Effect of Caffeine Chronically Consumed During Pregnancy on Adenosine A1 and A2A Receptors Signaling in Both Maternal and Fetal Heart from Wistar Rats

“…16 A growing body of research shows that coffee drinkers may be less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, stroke, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. [25][26][27] However, contradictory evidence in the literature about the effect of caffeine in the heart has been described.…”

“…14 This methylxanthine can reach fetal tissues because it can cross blood-brain 15 and blood-placental 16 barriers. Pregnant rats that have chronically consumed caffeine in their drinking water during all gestational period show a significant loss of A 1 receptors not only in the maternal whole brain but also in that of their fetuses.…”

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

“…Eleven of seventy-nine pre-term infants had detectable caffeine concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 3.7 µg/ml (mean: 2.5±0.8) in cord blood (McCulloch et al, 1989). Caffeine has also been detected in the majority of blood samples from the cord blood of infants in full-term pregnancies (Dumas et al, 1982;Van´t Hoff, 1982;Honsky and Emory, 1987). Amounts commonly detected are at a level of a few µg/ml.…”