Cerebral palsy can occur when newborns go through a period of low oxygen supply Exhaustive research suggests that caffeine, given to moms in pregnancy and newborns after birth, might prevent severe cerebral palsy Experiments have so far only been conducted in sheep; human trials are planned TUESDAY, Oct. 22, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Experiments in sheep are hinting that doses of caffeine given to women in pregnancy, as well as their newborns after birth, could prevent cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a disabling condition often caused by asphyxia -- reductions in oxygen supply -- around the time of birth.
Asphyxia can cause other neurodevelopmental disorders, as well. Researcher , a neonatologist at the University of California, San Francisco's Benioff Children’s Hospital, explained how caffeine might prevent asphyxia damage. “Caffeine has previously proven to be safe in stimulating the respiratory centers of preterm babies and helping them remember to breathe,” said Maltepe, who is senior author of the new study.
Caffeine “easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule,” added first study author , a pediatric intensivist at the same hospital. Maltepe and Mike published their findings Oct. 21 in the journal .
In the new study, 30 pregnant sheep received either a single intravenous dose of one gram of caffeine, which is equal to about 10 cups of coffee, or a placebo IV shot. Then, after their lambs were born and asp.