In the newspaper and on the Internet on January 24, 2008 I was presented with sensational news that caffeine causes miscarriage, as I always do, I decided to verify and validate this claim.
I first went to look at all studies cited in PubMed (a database of peer reviewed medical studies established over many years that the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health hosts). I searched, caffeine AND miscarriage, and found 87 citations. The two latest studies were both published in reputable Journals at the same time, there was the one I saw in the news (from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology) that said caffeine causes miscarriages, and interestingly another study not in the news published at the same time on January 19, 2008 (from Epidemiology) that showed there is little indication of caffeine causing miscarriage.
Which study should I believe? Which study should YOU believe? This example illustrates the problem with “studies” – ANY study depending on the study population, the number of subjects, the study design and the choice of interpretation criteria can produce ANY result.
So whose “study” is really true? Generally, we never know, and this is the problem with most “Studies”. Clinical studies are not facts, but are often conveniently biased props for justifying and promoting an opinion.
I vote that one of the ancient original stories that Abyssinian herdsmen followed the example of their goats to consume coffee beans for health is true and that coffee is overall beneficial to our health. To learn more and something real about coffee and to read a great book as gifted to me by a me by a wonderful friend, Rachell Hall, read, Expresso Coffee – The Science of Quality, by Illy and Viani, Elsevier Academic Press, 2005.
Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.
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