Tea consumption during pregnancy and the risk of pre-eclampsia

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of tea consumption during pregnancy on the risk of pre-eclampsia.MethodsA case-control study was carried out among nulliparous pregnant women in Quebec between January 2003 and March 2006. Data were collected using a structured study questionnaire. A total of 92 women with pre-eclampsia and 245 controls were analyzed. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression were performed to examine the association between tea consumption and pre-eclampsia.ResultsCompared with non-tea drinking during pregnancy, the crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR (aOR) of pre-eclampsia for tea drinking were 1.34 (95% CI, 0.80–2.25) and 1.39 (95% CI, 0.81-2.41), respectively. The OR and aOR of severe pre-eclampsia for tea drinking were 1.39 (95% CI, 0.78–2.46) and 2.14 (95% CI, 1.01–4.54), respectively. The aORs for persistent tea consumption in pre-eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia were 1.88 (95% CI, 1.01–3.51) and 1.95 (95% CI, 1.06–3.57), respectively.ConclusionPersistent tea drinking during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia.