UK Advises Pregnant
Women on Caffeine Intake

LONDON (Reuters Health) - Pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to the equivalent of four cups of instant coffee a day, a UK government agency advised on Wednesday.

Consuming more caffeine than this--about 300 milligrams (mg) per day--could increase their risk of having a miscarriage or a low birth weight baby, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The advice puts a figure on previous Department of Health advice that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to ``moderate'' levels.

``In practice this doesn't mean cutting out coffee completely but is about taking a sensible precaution,'' said Suzi Leather, deputy chair of the FSA.

The agency noted that expectant mothers also need to monitor their intake of other foods and drink that contain caffeine, such as tea, soft drinks and chocolate. For example, one bar of chocolate, three cups of tea, a can of cola, and a cup of instant coffee would add up to 300 mg/day.

The UK recommendation is in line with US guidelines. The US Pharmacopeia, a non-governmental organization that sets standards for drug manufacturing and dosage, also states that pregnant women should consume no more than 300 mg of caffeine daily.

To help women keep track of their intake, FSA set out caffeine intakes for individual items:

-- Average cup of instant coffee - 75 mg

-- Average mug of coffee - 100 mg

-- Average cup of brewed coffee - 100 mg

-- Average cup of tea - 50 mg

-- Regular cola drink - up to 40 mg

-- Regular energy drink - up to 80 mg

-- Normal bar of chocolate - up to 50 mg

The UK agency also warned that caffeine can be found in certain cold and flu remedies, and said pregnant women should seek advice from their health professionals about their diet.

The new advice is based on a review of scientific literature by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, a group of independent experts.

Reference Source 89

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