title: Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy, early growth, and body fat distribution at school age.
abstract: The associations of maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy with offspring growth patterns and body fat and insulin levels at school age were examined.
  
  
  
  In a population-based birth cohort among 7,857 mothers and their children, maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy was assessed by questionnaires. Growth characteristics were measured from birth onward. At 6 years, body fat and insulin levels were measured.
  
  
  
  Compared to children whose mothers consumed <2 units of caffeine per day during pregnancy (1 unit of caffeine is equivalent to 1 cup of coffee (90 mg caffeine)), those whose mothers consumed ≥6 units of caffeine per day tended to have a lower weight at birth, higher weight gain from birth to 6 years, and higher body mass index from 6 months to 6 years. Both children whose mothers consumed 4-5.9 and ≥6 units of caffeine per day during pregnancy tended to have a higher childhood body mass index and total body fat mass. Only children whose mothers consumed ≥6 units of caffeine per day had a higher android/gynoid fat mass ratio.
  
  
  
  These results suggest that high levels of maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy are associated with adverse offspring growth patterns and childhood body fat distribution.
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Voerman
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vincent W V
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Jaddoe
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Olta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gishti
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Oscar H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaillard
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001823:Body Composition; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003069:Coffee; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee; D002110:Caffeine