CAFFEINE AND SPONTANEOUS-ABORTION OF KNOWN KARYOTYPE

We tested associations of caffeine from beverages with spontaneous abortions of known karyotype. Spontaneous abortions (cases) were classified as chromosomally normal (n = 510) or chromosomally aberrant (n = 389) and, within the latter category, by type of aberration (237 trisomies, 54 monosomies X, 49 triploidies, 49 others). Controls registered for prenatal care before 22 weeks gestation and delivered at 28 weeks or later (n = 1,423). Caffeine intake in the perifertilization period did not differ among case groups and controls. For the highest category, 225+ mg/day, odds ratios (OR), adjusted for payment group and maternal age, were 1.0 for chromosomally normal cases, 0.9 for trisomies, 1.6 for monosomies X, and 0.8 for triploidies. Caffeine intake during pregnancy was tested for associations with chromosomally normal loss using the chromosomally aberrant cases to provide a robust comparison group. Although the proportion of subjects with intake of 225+ mg/day of caffeine was higher in cases than in controls, it was similar for those with chromosomally normal and aberrant losses (OR = 1.2). We infer that caffeine intake in the perifertilization period does not influence the risk of chromosomally normal loss or trisomy. For monosomy X and triploidy, no strong associations were observed, but numbers were insufficient to rule out moderate effects. For caffeine intake during pregnancy, we found little evidence to support an influence on chromosomally normal loss.