Abstract 13453: Caffeine and Development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Preeclampsia: The Boston Birth Cohort

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE) are common pregnancy complications. Some studies have linked self-reported caffeinated coffee and tea intake to lower risks of GDM and PE. But little is known about the associations of objectively measured caffeine exposure during pregnancy with GDM and PE. Methods: We used data from pregnant women without pre-existing diabetes or hypertension in the Boston Birth Cohort (enrolled 1998-2016). From cord blood and maternal blood, collected within 72 hours after delivery, we measured caffeine metabolites (caffeine, 1,7-dimethyluric acid, and 3-methylxanthine). We also estimated caffeinated coffee and tea intake in each trimester from a food frequency questionnaire. We examined odds ratios of GDM and PE using logistic regression models after adjusting for confounders. We modeled metabolites in tertiles and continuously and beverage intakes in categories: 0; 1-6 cups/week; ≥7 cups/week. Results: In cord blood analyses (n=744; 8% with GDM; 7% with PE), each 1-SD increments in cord caffeine, 1,7-dimethyluric acid, and 3-methylxanthine were associated with 0.71 (95% CI: 0.53, 0.94), 0.80 (95% CI: 0.59, 1.08) and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.43, 0.86) times the odds of GDM, respectively. In maternal blood analyses (n=1097; 8% with GDM; 8% with PE), each 1-SD increments in maternal caffeine and 1,7-dimethyluric acid were associated with 0.81 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.02) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.68, 1.11) times the odds of GDM, respectively. Caffeine metabolites in cord or maternal blood were not statistically associated with PE. Self-reported coffee intake of ≥7 cups/week was significantly associated with lower odds of GDM (in all trimesters) and lower odds of PE (in 3 rd trimester) than no coffee intake; whereas tea intake had no significant associations with GDM and PE. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that caffeine exposure in pregnancy may be protective against the development of GDM and have little to no association with PE.