Maternal and Child Health Journal

, Volume 17, Issue 4, pp 601–608

Does Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy Play a Role in the Association Found Between Maternal Caffeine Intake and Fetal Growth Restriction?

  • S. M. Boylan
  • D. C. Greenwood
  • N. Alwan
  • M. S. Cooke
  • V. A. Dolby
  • A. W. M. Hay
  • S. F. L. Kirk
  • J. C. Konje
  • N. Potdar
  • S. Shires
  • N. A. B. Simpson
  • N. Taub
  • J. D. Thomas
  • J. J. Walker
  • K. L. M. White
  • C. P. Wild
  • J. E. Cade
Article
First Online:

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and (a) fetal growth restriction; and (b) maternal caffeine metabolism and fetal growth restriction. A cohort of 2,643 pregnant women, aged 18–45 years, attending two UK maternity units between 8 and 12 weeks gestation, was recruited. A validated tool assessed caffeine intake at different stages of pregnancy and caffeine metabolism was assessed from a caffeine challenge test. Experience of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy was self-reported for each trimester. Adjustment was made for confounders, including salivary cotinine as a biomarker of current smoking status. There were no significant associations between fetal growth restriction and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, even after adjustment for smoking and alcohol intake. There were no significant differences in the relationship between caffeine intake and fetal growth restriction between those experiencing symptoms of nausea and vomiting and those who did not, for either the first (p = 0.50) or second trimester (p = 0.61) after adjustment for smoking, alcohol intake and caffeine half-life. There were also no significant differences in the relationship between caffeine half-life and fetal growth restriction between those experiencing symptoms of nausea and vomiting and those who did not, for either the first trimester (p = 0.91) or the second trimester (p = 0.45) after adjusting for smoking, alcohol intake and caffeine intake. The results from this study show no evidence that the relationship between maternal caffeine intake and fetal growth restriction is modified by nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

Keywords

Caffeine Nausea Vomiting Fetal growth restriction 

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • S. M. Boylan
    • 1
    • 7
  • D. C. Greenwood
    • 2
  • N. Alwan
    • 1
  • M. S. Cooke
    • 3
  • V. A. Dolby
    • 1
  • A. W. M. Hay
    • 4
  • S. F. L. Kirk
    • 1
  • J. C. Konje
    • 3
  • N. Potdar
    • 3
  • S. Shires
    • 4
  • N. A. B. Simpson
    • 5
  • N. Taub
    • 3
  • J. D. Thomas
    • 1
  • J. J. Walker
    • 6
  • K. L. M. White
    • 4
  • C. P. Wild
    • 4
    • 8
  • J. E. Cade
    • 1
  1. 1.Nutritional Epidemiology Group, School of Food Science and NutritionUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
  2. 2.Biostatistics Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and BiostatisticsUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
  3. 3.University of LeicesterLeicesterUK
  4. 4.Molecular Epidemiology GroupUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
  5. 5.Division of Obstetrics and GynaecologyLeeds General InfirmaryLeedsUK
  6. 6.Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologySt. James University HospitalLeedsUK
  7. 7.Boden Institute for Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders, Level 2The University of SydneySydneyAustralia
  8. 8.International Agency for Research on CancerLyonFrance

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