Abstract
Background & Objectives
Earlier published studies on maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy in relation to the risk of low birth weight (LBW) (birth weight <2500 g) have indicated conflicting findings. Therefore, the present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the association between maternal caffeine intake and risk of LBW.
Methods
We searched for relevant articles published up to Jan 2021 through PubMed and Scopus. For this purpose, we used MESH (Medical Subject Heading) and non-MESH keywords. Cohort studies that considered maternal caffeine intake as the exposure variable and LBW as the main outcome variable were included in the systematic review. Finally, seven cohort studies were considered in this systematic review and meta-analysis.
Results
Combining seven effect sizes, we found a significant positive association between maternal caffeine intake and risk of LBW (RR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.19–2.43). We also found that each additional 100-mg per day of maternal caffeine intake was significantly associated with an increased risk of LBW (RR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03–1.22; Pheterogeneity = 0.020). In addition, nonlinear dose–response analysis showed a significant relationship (Pnonlinearity < 0.001) between maternal caffeine intake and risk of LBW.
Conclusions
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we found a significant positive association between maternal caffeine intake and risk of LBW.
Acknowledgements
The authors’ responsibilities were as follows— SS, LA, BL and AE: designed the research; SS and MA: conducted the research; SS, ASM and PS: analyzed the data; SS and AE: wrote the manuscript; AE: had primary responsibility for the final content; and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Disclosure statement
All authors reported no conflict of interest.