Preconception caffeine metabolites, caffeinated beverage intake, and fecundability

Caffeine is the most frequently used psychoactive substance in the United States and >90% of reproductive-age women report some amount of intake daily. Despite biological plausibility, previous studies on caffeine and fecundability report conflicting results. Importantly, prior studies measured caffeine exposure exclusively by self-report, which is subject to measurement error and does not account for factors that influence caffeine metabolism.

Our objective was to examine associations between preconception serum caffeine metabolites, caffeinated beverage intake, and fecundability.

Participants included 1228 women aged 18-40 y with a history of 1-2 pregnancy losses in the EAGeR (Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction) trial. We prospectively evaluated associations of preconception caffeine metabolites (i.e., caffeine, paraxanthine, and theobromine) measured from 1191 serum samples untimed to a specific time of day, self-reported usual caffeinated beverage intakes at baseline, and time-varying cycle-average caffeinated beverage intake, with fecundability. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated fecundability odds ratios (FORs) and 95% CIs according to each metabolite. Follow-up was complete for 89% (n = 1088) of participants.

At baseline, 85%, 73%, and 91% of women had detectable serum caffeine, paraxanthine, and theobromine, respectively. A total of 797 women became pregnant during ≤6 cycles of preconception follow-up. After adjusting for potential confounders, neither serum caffeine [tertile (T)3 compared with T1 For: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.71, 1.08], paraxanthine (T3 compared with T1 For: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.14), nor theobromine (T3 compared with T1 For: 1.15; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.40) were associated with fecundability. Baseline intake of total caffeinated beverages was not associated with fecundability (>3 compared with 0 servings/d adjusted For: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.74, 1.34), nor was caffeinated coffee (>2 compared with 0 servings/d adjusted For: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.45, 1.92) or caffeinated soda (>2 servings/d adjusted For: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.71, 1.20).

Our findings are reassuring that caffeine exposure from usual low to moderate caffeinated beverage intake likely does not influence fecundability.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00467363.