Scientists are warning women not to drink too much coffee during pregnancy after discovering that caffeine may increase the risk of autism in their children.
Rodents given an amount of caffeine comparable to that consumed by the average pregnant woman had babies that showed some characteristic signs of autism.
They believe this is caused by changes in brain function in utero that cause poor communication between nerve cells, leading to the symptoms of autism.
The CDC recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to about 200 mg/day, about two cups of coffee.
Newborn rats born to parents who consumed caffeine and ate a high-fat diet were at even higher risk of autism-like symptoms.
An estimated one in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with ASD, usually around age four. The rate is a jump of one in 44 in 2021
It is recommended that pregnant women drink no more than 200 mg of caffeine per day, but most drink at least 100 mg more than that (stock)
The researchers behind the study came from Wuhan University in China. The study highlighted risk factors that increase caffeine consumption and a high-fat diet for the diagnosis of autism, “emphasizing the importance of avoiding adverse environmental factors during pregnancy and after birth.”
The findings add to several studies showing that pregnant women who drink caffeine are more likely to give birth to smaller babies.
And since some women drink more than 300 mg of caffeine a day, the report suggests that more and more babies will show signs of autism unless pregnant women cut back.
An estimate one in 36 children In the US, children are diagnosed with ASD, usually around the age of four. The rate is a jump of one in 44 in 2021.
While it’s not known exactly how many pregnant women drink or take some form of caffeine (the compound can be found in mints and easy-to-swallow capsules), leading experts advise that they consume no more than 200 mg/day, about two cups. of coffee.
But the new study by researchers at Wuhan University said the average pregnant woman drinks between 200 mg/day and 500 mg/day, between two and four cups.
It was done on rats, an important caveat.
They set out to investigate how a diet high in fat and processed foods after birth combined with caffeine in the womb would cause symptoms of autism.
They divided the pregnant rats into two groups: one exposed to the equivalent of one and a half cups and the other group given a placebo.
Behavioral testing was conducted to identify ASD-like behaviors in the offspring, including social interaction testing and memory challenges.
They also performed physiological tests to determine microbiome composition and brain activity.
Rats exposed to caffeine in utero were more likely to show signs of autism, such as social dysfunction and poor spatial reasoning, after birth.
Caffeine is thought to disrupt developmental progress, while a high diet increases inflammation and gut bacteria imbalances, both of which are thought to increase a child’s chances of showing signs of autism.
Then, after birth, the offspring were divided into groups based on their diet: Some received a standard diet and others received a high-fat diet that many Americans follow.
This classification allowed the researchers to examine how both prenatal caffeine exposure and postnatal dietary patterns together influenced the likelihood of exhibiting autism-like behaviors.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can raise blood pressure. In the fetal brain, caffeine can interfere with the normal development of neural circuits and neurotransmitter systems, which are crucial for various cognitive and behavioral functions.
Even minimal caffeine intake during pregnancy can disrupt your baby’s sleep and movement patterns in the later stages of gestation.
It’s important to note that because caffeine acts as a stimulant, it could affect you and your baby’s ability to sleep.
Dr Dan Xu, author of the study and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Wuhan University, said: “We found that male rats exposed to adverse prenatal environments exhibited autistic behaviors, but both male and female rats showed behaviors typical of autism. after being fed a high-fat diet. -birth.
“This suggests that attention should also be paid to female offspring exposed to adverse prenatal environments.”
The change in the gut microbiome was associated with a process in which a specific immune cell underwent changes in its functioning, leading to higher levels of a compound well known for its inflammation-causing properties in the body.
This inflammatory compound can reach the brain and damage important connections between brain cells.
The researchers said: “These findings suggest that the gut microbiota may be a potential target for the prevention and treatment of ASD in the future.”
The effects were most notable in male rats, suggesting that a similar difference could be seen in human babies.
The latest findings were published in the journal. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.