[ChyFDjfed]

Coffee may raise child cancer risk: New evidence that caffeine could damage babies' DNA

Last updated at 7:05 PM on 26th January 2009

Women who drink coffee or tea during pregnancy may increase their baby’s odds of developing cancer, doctors believe.

Experts say caffeine may damage the DNA of babies in the womb, making them more susceptible to leukaemia, the most common cancer in children.

To establish the link, scientists at Leicester University will scrutinise the caffeine intake of hundreds of pregnant women and compare the results with blood samples from their babies after birth.
Researcher Dr Marcus Cooke said there was a ‘good likelihood’ the study would make a connection. Previous research has shown that caffeine damages DNA, cutting cells’ ability to fight off cancer triggers such as radiation.




Changes of this kind have been seen in the blood cells of children with leukaemia. Scientists know they occur in the womb, but do not know why.

‘Although there’s no evidence at all of a link between caffeine and cancer, we’re putting two and two together and saying: caffeine can induce these changes and it has been shown that these changes are elevated in leukaemia patients,’ added Dr Cooke.

‘I wonder if caffeine can somehow sensitise cells or increase the risk of leukaemia? The idea seems plausible.
‘It is vital for mothers that we either confirm caffeine as a trigger that can make something happen to a child while in the womb or rule it out.’



The Food Standards Agency recently reduced the amount of caffeine it advises can be safely consumed in pregnancy from 300mg a day to 200mg. This is equivalent to two mugs of instant coffee, four cups of tea or five cans of cola.

Source: MailOnline

[disappointment2]

they have been warning against caffeine and pregnancy for years this is really no huge surprise

[padlabtard]

More scaremongering, it's only a matter of time before someone tells us that eating, breathing, sleeping and shitting is bad for you if you're pregnant.

[DoctorQuquriramba]

If I poop out a child ill be worried but until then *drinks caffeine*

[uneniaPhenits]

Forget about caffeine then and how abt nicotine

[10traistintarry]

More scaremongering, it's only a matter of time before someone tells us that eating, breathing, sleeping and shitting is bad for you if you're pregnant.

Exactly. It seems everything is bad for you nowadays. Alcohol is said to be bad for a pregnant woman, so no alcohol whatsoever, yet there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that a glass of wine once a week causes any damage. All studies have been done on those women who have at least three drinks per week.

[joOEMcheapSOFTWARE]

Yeah I tend to avoid the 'stuff'

[Ruiptuptubre]

Exactly. It seems everything is bad for you nowadays. Alcohol is said to be bad for a pregnant woman, so no alcohol whatsoever, yet there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that a glass of wine once a week causes any damage. All studies have been done on those women who have at least three drinks per week.

Thats very strange cuz u had the loudest voice in the smoking ban thread

[pGJLweEw]

Thats very strange cuz u had the loudest voice in the smoking ban thread

I did, didn't I? I don't think women should smoke during pregnancy, but if they must, they must smoke very, very little. One or two smokes a day would cause less damage to her unborn baby than if she smoked half a pack.

[intisgunkas]

I think it's sad when babies are born addicted to drugs...

[Stetbrate]

they have been warning against caffeine and pregnancy for years this is really no huge surprise

But now they have PROOF that caffeine is bad for pregnancies!

[Tauntenue]

But now they have PROOF that caffeine is bad for pregnancies!

Not yet. The article says that scientists are yet to analyse their results, and are yet to start the study.

Four cups of tea, or two cups of coffee, or five cans of soft drink are nothing. You'd have to be a real caffeine addict to drink more than that, so they'd be testing those women who drink about a dozen cups of tea or coffee a day.

[Borzopayn]

Not yet. The article says that scientists are yet to analyse their results, and are yet to start the study.

Four cups of tea, or two cups of coffee, or five cans of soft drink are nothing. You'd have to be a real caffeine addict to drink more than that, so they'd be testing those women who drink about a dozen cups of tea or coffee a day.

Why wait for a conclusion? Caffeine has been proven to be bad in general

[tobia]

This isn't news to anyone.

And about scaremongering? Sure some of it is, but it is also society's demands for a more perfect people.

[stutnerman]

If this is scaremongering then the real scaremongers are the researchers. I guess they are paid to scaremonger

[ROYMANgo]

they said the same thing about Hot Dogs. if the man eats alot of Hotdogs then the unborn child has a risk of some disease. i think it was some kind of cancer.

but this was when i was a kid when they said this.

[Cersdog]

i think the doctors are full of shit. there are a lot of things that have also been proved wrong by them. Like you're not supposed to eat fish...come to find that studies show that fish is okay with a certain amount and can actually increase your babys brain development, or something along those lines.0

[Munccoughe]

my mom ate an italian hoagie every day when she was pregnant with me.

that wasnt good for my arm pits. lol

[bettingonosports]

There are other things they don't tell you:

One is specific cancer cells feed almost exclusively on sugar....So you should watch you sugar intake regardless of weight issues.

Yes, Alicia Omega 3 fatty acids are good for your childs brain development, but you have to find the kind produced from farm raised fish to reduce the potential for heavy metal toxicity.

[Gosxjqum]

Actually, I think your SUPPOSED to eat lot's of fish now, or something...