Caffeine doubles risk of miscarriage, study says

TORONTO - Pregnant women who consume at least two cups of coffee or other caffeine-laced beverages a day could be doubling their risk of miscarriage, a U.S. study suggests.

Researchers found that women who ingested 200 milligrams or more of caffeine daily in coffee, tea, caffeinated sodas or hot chocolate had twice the risk of miscarrying compared to pregnant women who consumed no caffeine.

Two or more cups of regular coffee contain 200 milligrams of caffeine, as do five 355-millilitre cans of soft drinks made with the chemical.

The study involved 1,063 pregnant women in San Francisco from 1996 to 1998, who did not alter their caffeine consumption pattern during pregnancy. The women were followed for up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
 
Researchers found that 25.5 per cent of women who said they consumed more than 200 milligrams a day miscarried, compared with 12.5 per cent of women who reported no caffeine intake during pregnancy.