title: The effects of maternal caffeine and chocolate intake on fetal heart rate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of caffeine and chocolate (70% cocoa) on fetal heart rate (FHR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty pregnant women with uncomplicated gestation, matched for age and parity, underwent computerized FHR recording before and after the consumption of caffeine and then, after one week, before and after 70% cocoa chocolate intake. Computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) parameters were expressed as mean and SD. The differences were tested for statistical significance using the paired t-test, with significance at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of uterine contraction peaks, the number of small and large accelerations (10 and 15 beats per minute for 15 seconds), the duration of episodes of high variation and the short-term FHR variation were significantly higher (p < 0.001) after maternal coffee intake. The number of large accelerations, the duration of episodes of high variation and the short-term FHR variation were significantly higher (p < 0.001) after maternal consumption of chocolate, whilst no effect of cocoa was found during contractions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that maternal intake of both caffeine and 70% cocoa have a stimulating action on fetal reactivity. This finding is likely due to the pharmacological action of theobromine, a methilxanthine present in coffee and in chocolate. The correlation between maternal caffeine intake and increased uterine contraction peaks is likely due to the effect of caffeine on the uterine muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buscicchio
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piemontese
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gentilucci
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tranquilli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002099:Cacao; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002182:Candy; D015148:Cardiotocography; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003069:Coffee; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003069:Coffee; D002110:Caffeine