New research from Benioff Children’s Hospital at the University of California, San Francisco suggests that caffeine may play an important role in preventing cerebral palsy in newborns, especially in cases associated with birth asphyxia. This disabling condition often occurs when the oxygen supply is reduced during or shortly after childbirth, leading to severe neurodevelopmental disorders.

The study, led by neonatologist Dr. Emin Maltepe and pediatrician Dr. Jana Mic, was published October 21 in the journal Stroke. Their investigation involved administering caffeine to pregnant sheep, which yielded promising results that may have significant effects on both maternal and newborn health.

Dr. Maltepe explained how caffeine can reduce the effects of asphyxiation. “Caffeine has previously been shown to be safe in stimulating the respiratory centers of premature babies and helping them remember to breathe,” she said. Its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and its properties as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule may make it a valuable therapeutic agent in this context.

In the study, 30 pregnant sheep received either a single dose of caffeine, equivalent to about 10 cups of coffee, or a placebo. After inducing asphyxiation in their newborn lambs, some were given a substantial dose of caffeine followed by a lower dose over the next two days, while others were given a placebo.

The results were remarkable: Lambs treated with caffeine demonstrated significantly lower levels of systemic inflammation, indicated by fewer cytokines, compared to their untreated counterparts. Additionally, these lambs showed less evidence of injury in both the gray and white matter of the brain and were more active, leading to increased eating and movement behavior.

Importantly, the researchers reported that caffeine treatment had no harmful effects on the mothers, suggesting its potential safety for use in similar scenarios in humans. Dr. Maltepe expressed optimism about the implications of these findings: “We are excited about the potential to prevent long-term disability in infants with birth asphyxia, especially in low-resource countries where current treatments are less effective And the need for prenatal treatment is the greatest.”

Currently, approximately 95% of cerebral palsy cases occur in low- to middle-income countries, where access to effective medical interventions is limited. The only available therapy for newborns experiencing low oxygen levels involves cooling the body for 72 hours before gradually warming it – a method that has shown only modest effectiveness even in high-quality health care settings.

Researchers showed that inadequate placental nutrition can lead to brain hypoxia in the first stages of pregnancy, raising the need to find more effective preventive measures. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the research team conducted a thorough review of more than 1,000 potential drugs to identify effective treatments for asphyxiation-related injuries. Surprisingly, caffeine emerged as the most effective candidate, surpassing the current standard of care.

While animal studies often don’t translate directly to human applications, the San Francisco team remains optimistic and is already planning clinical trials involving women and newborns around the world. Dr. Maltep concluded, “The excitement about this research is driven by its potential to prevent long-term disability in infants who suffer from birth asphyxia, especially in areas where treatment options are limited.”

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