Caffeine linked to lower birthweight

LONDON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- A British study suggests drinking five or more cups of coffee a day can increase a pregnant woman's risk of delivering an underweight baby by a third.

The University of Leeds said the study, conducted by researchers from Leeds and the University of Leicester, shows caffeine intake of 500 mg a day -- about five mugs of coffee -- increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby by 16 percent, compared to a 12 percent risk in women who drink very little caffeine.

Britain's Food Standards Agency recommends pregnant women take a maximum of 200 mg of caffeine daily, the university said Monday in a news release.

The findings are published in the British Medical Journal.