Caffeine and Birth Weight.While coffee consumption during pregnancy is common, the relation between caffeine caffeine (kăfēn`), odorless, slightly bitter alkaloid found in coffee, tea, kola nuts (see cola), ilex plants (the source of the Latin American drink maté), and, in small amounts, in cocoa (see cacao). intake and fetal fetal /fe·tal/ (fe´tal) of or pertaining to a fetus or the period of its development. fe·tal adj. Of, relating to, or being a fetus. outcome remains unclear, in part because of confounding confounding when the effects of two, or more, processes on results cannot be separated, the results are said to be confounded, a cause of bias in disease studies. confounding factor with smoking and bias from relying on the mother's recall for exposure. A British study assessed plasma caffeine and nicotine nicotine, C10H14N2, poisonous, pale yellow, oily liquid alkaloid with a pungent odor and an acrid taste. It turns brown on exposure to air. levels of women delivering between 1982 and 1984. Caffeine intake was also assessed by questionnaire. After removing the smokers, blood caffeine levels were found to be unrelated to birth weight. Smoking, as always, was found to decrease birth weight, and there was a small decrease in birthweight for smokers who drank more coffee. -- Journal Watch, 1/15/97 |
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