A recent review published in the journal Nutrients on the clinical effects of maternal caffeine consumption on pregnancy and fetal outcomes revealed that moderate caffeine intake (less than 200 mg/day) is not associated with serious complications such as gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, or preeclampsia.

According to the website “News Medical Life Science,” despite varying evidence among studies on caffeine consumption during pregnancy, some studies have found associations between caffeine and low birth weight, highlighting a dose-related risk and indicating potential adverse effects of caffeine intake during this critical pregnancy period.

Recent reports indicate that up to 85% of adults consume caffeine daily, including pregnant women. Despite its proven benefits and relatively strong physiological safety, some studies, especially in animals, suggest that this psychoactive substance may cause significant harm to fetal growth and development.

Recent research has shown that a pregnant woman’s ability to metabolize caffeine slows significantly as pregnancy progresses, with caffeine’s half-life (about 4 to 5 hours in non-pregnant adults) extending to about 15 hours in late pregnancy, exposing both mother and fetus to the substance for much longer than usual.

As a result, major health organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued safety guidelines regarding caffeine, generally recommending pregnant women limit caffeine intake to 200 mg per day (ACOG) or less than 300 mg per day. However, the review emphasizes that there is no globally agreed “safe” level.

This narrative review aims to leverage recent scientific data to address this knowledge gap and provide prospective mothers and physicians with necessary recommendations to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

The review focused on human clinical studies published in the past five years, examining caffeine’s impact on a wide range of measurable outcomes, including major pregnancy complications (such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia), fetal growth, and long-term child health.

Current evidence suggests that moderate maternal caffeine intake is not clearly associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, or preeclampsia, though these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to study limitations.

High caffeine consumption led to reduced fetal body weight, indicating that even moderate intake (less than 200 mg daily) is still associated with small-for-gestational-age infants. Some observational studies also suggest potential links between higher caffeine intake and increased risk of preterm birth.

Emerging data also indicate potential long-term effects on the child’s neurodevelopment, behavior, and metabolic outcomes, though these results remain preliminary and require more precise confirmation. Additional findings discussed in the review include possible associations with maternal anemia, recurrent miscarriage, and birth complications, although evidence in these areas is limited and inconsistent.

Due to the significant slowdown in caffeine metabolism during pregnancy, the review stresses the need for careful monitoring of caffeine intake and individualized counseling for each woman, emphasizing the importance of minimizing caffeine exposure as much as possible.