Tea consumption during pregnancy and the risk of pre-eclampsia

objective: To examine the effects of tea consumption during pregnancy on the risk of pre-eclampsia. Methods: A 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 preeclampsia and 245 controls were analyzed. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression were performed to examine the association between tea consumption and pre-eclampsia. Results: Compared 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. Conclusion: Persistent tea drinking during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia. (C) 2008 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.