A RECENT study has revealed a potential association between energy drink consumption before pregnancy and an increased risk of gestational hypertension. The study, led by Ming Ding, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, commented on the importance of understanding the impact of energy drink intake on pregnancy outcomes, particularly in young adults of reproductive age.
The researchers conducted a prospective cohort study involving 3,045 females from the Nurses’ Health Study 3, and 1,691 females from the Growing Up Today study. All participants reported at least one pregnancy between 2011–June 2019. The primary outcomes assessed included self-reported adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as pregnancy loss, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, or preterm birth. Energy drink consumption was evaluated through a food frequency questionnaire.
Data obtained indicated that 14% of females from the Growing Up Today study, and 9% from Nurses’ Health study 3, had reported energy drink consumption before pregnancy. The study found a significant association between energy drink consumption before pregnancy and a higher risk of gestational hypertension (odds ratio: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.12–2.29). No significant associations were observed with other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Researchers also noted an interaction between age and energy drink consumption concerning gestational hypertension (P=0.02) and hypertensive disorders (P=0.04), with the association being stronger in females aged 28 years or older, compared to those younger than 28 years.
Despite the limitations of the study, including the low prevalence of energy drink intake in the study population, the results underscore the importance of considering the potential risks associated with energy drink consumption, especially before and during pregnancy. Further research is warranted to validate and expand upon these findings, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between energy drink intake and pregnancy outcomes.
