Scientists are cautioning women against drinking too much coffee during pregnancy after finding caffeine may raise the risk of autism in their child.

Rodents given a comparable amount of caffeine to what the average pregnant woman takes in had babies that showed some hallmark signs of autism.

They believe this cause is changes to brain function in the womb that cause poor communication between nerve cells, giving rise to autism symptoms.  

The cdc recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to about 200 mg/day, about two cups of coffee. 

Newborn rats who were born to caffeine-consuming parents and went on to eat high fat diet had even higher risk of autism-like symptoms 




An estimated one in 36 children in the US are diagnosed with ASD, typically around age four. The rate is a jump from one in 44 in 2021





Pregnant women are recommended to 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 the risk factors that caffeine consumption and a high fat diet raise for autism diagnosis, '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 with some women drinking more than 300 mg of caffeine per day, the report suggests that more and more babies will show signs of autism unless pregnant women cut back.

An estimated one in 36 children in the US are diagnosed with ASD, typically around age four. The rate is a jump from one in 44 in 2021.

While it'S Capsules Scam not known exactly how many pregnant women drink or take caffeine in some form (the compound can be found in mints and easy-to-swallow capsules), leading experts advise that they consume no more that 200 mg/day, about two cups of coffee.

But the new study by researchers at Wuhan University said the average pregnant woman drinks between 200mg/day to 500 mg/day, between two and four cups.

It was conducted in rats, a major caveat.

The set out to investigate how a diet high in fatty and processed foods after birth combined with caffeine in utero would lead to autism symptoms. 

They broke the pregnant rats into two groups - one exposed to the equivalent to a cup and a half and one group who was a placebo.

Behavioral tests were conducted to identify ASD-like behaviors in the offspring including social interaction tests and memory challenges. 

They also conducted physiological tests to determine the microbiome makeup and brain activity.