Drinking coffee is part of the daily ritual of many people and there are even many who consider themselves addicted to coffee, because it is not possible for them to spend a single day without drinking at least one cup. In pregnancy, it is important to control its consumption, as various studies have linked it with the risk of miscarriage or premature delivery.
Now another possible risk has been found, because according to a new study, consuming caffeine during pregnancy can cause changes in the baby’s brain , which could cause behavior problems in the future.
Published in the journal Neuropharmacology , the study carried out by researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), analyzed the brain scans of children between nine and ten years old, with the aim of reviewing the Effects of Caffeine Consumption by Their Mothers on Pregnancy.
Of 9,157 women who participated in the study, 4,135 of them reported consuming caffeine more than once a week during their pregnancy.
According to the analysis carried out, it was found that children who were exposed to caffeine while in the womb had had changes in the structure of their brains , specifically in the organization of the white matter tracks, which forms the connections between them. brain regions.
The researchers explain that these changes are relatively small and do not cause severe psychiatric conditions, but they are relevant because they have a long-term impact , which shows the importance of analyzing the effects of caffeine on pregnancy beyond the first years.
Among the effects observed in children whose mothers drank coffee during pregnancy, high behavioral problems, attention difficulties and hyperactivity stand out.
The study authors comment that it is important to note that this is a retrospective study and they trust mothers to remember how much caffeine they consumed in pregnancy.
As more research continues on this topic and the long-term effects of drinking coffee on pregnancy, the researchers conclude that the study results suggest that it is best to avoid consuming caffeine during this stage .
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Via | EurekAlert
In Babies and more | Not a drop of coffee in pregnancy: study shows no safe minimum amount
