Moderate Coffee During Pregnancy May Cut Child's Eczema Risk 11%, Korean Study Finds

Coffee is often the first concern for women who discover they are pregnant, due to worries that caffeine may harm the fetus. A new Korean study suggests that "moderate" coffee consumption during pregnancy may actually lower the risk of atopic dermatitis in children.

On the 21st, a research team led by Professor Kim Yi-jun of Ewha Womans University's Department of Environmental Medicine published findings in Healthcare Informatics Research based on analysis of the Korean Children's Environmental Health Study (Ko-CHENS) birth cohort.

The researchers tracked 3,252 mother-child pairs recruited between 2015 and 2019, dividing them into three groups: those who stopped drinking coffee (1,809), those who drank less than one cup daily (1,225), and those who drank one or more cups daily (188). The children were monitored for atopic dermatitis development over three years after birth.

Mothers who consumed less than one cup of coffee daily during pregnancy showed an 11% lower risk of their children developing atopic dermatitis compared to mothers who abstained entirely. Those drinking one or more cups daily showed a 9% risk reduction tendency, though this result was not statistically significant.

The researchers suggested that antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in coffee, along with changes to gut microbiome environment, may have influenced fetal immune development. However, they noted that as an observational study, causation cannot be established, and variables such as coffee type, brewing method, and accompanying dietary habits may not have been fully accounted for.

"This is the first Korean birth cohort analysis showing that moderate coffee consumption during pregnancy may be associated with reduced risk of infantile atopic dermatitis," the research team said, adding that "additional research is needed to confirm causation." They emphasized that the findings should not be interpreted as grounds for actively recommending coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Experts stress that the key issue is not whether to drink coffee but managing total caffeine intake, as caffeine is found in green tea, chocolate, cola, and other foods. Individual differences in caffeine metabolism must also be considered.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that limiting caffeine intake to 200mg or less per day during pregnancy does not significantly increase the risk of miscarriage or preterm birth. A typical Americano contains approximately 95mg of caffeine.

Professor Han Jung-yeol of Ilsan Paik Hospital's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology said, "Pregnant women consume caffeine through various foods. While government and academic recommendations vary slightly, maintaining total daily intake below 200mg is a practical standard."