The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
The United States has been noted as the country with the greatest caffeine consumption in the world. More than half of all Americans are said to consume caffeine on a daily basis. Caffeine is easily available in a variety of dietary products including coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate. Many pregnant women are unaware of the potential risk that excessive caffeine consumption can have on their unborn child. The purpose of this paper is to explore the ramifications of caffeine intake on a fetus. The studies reviewed propose that heavy maternal caffeine consumption, that of more than 300 mg daily, is associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion or delivery of an infant of low birth weight. Most researchers agreed that caffeine does cause preterm labor and delivery, nor does it act as a human teratogen.
Recommended Citation
Kahan, J. (2018). The Effects of Maternal Caffeine Intake on a Fetus. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 11(2). Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol11/iss2/8
