Maternal smoking, consumption of alcohol, and caffeinated beverages during pregnancy and the risk of childhood brain tumors: a meta-analysis of observational studies

BMC Public Health. 2024 May 6;24(1):1238. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18569-9.

Abstract

Background: We conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the potential association between maternal smoking, alcohol and caffeinated beverages consumption during pregnancy and the risk of childhood brain tumors (CBTs).

Methods: A thorough search was carried out on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Internet to identify pertinent articles. Fixed or random effects model was applied to meta-analyze the data.

Results: The results suggested a borderline statistically significant increased risk of CBTs associated with maternal smoking during pregnancy (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.99-1.09). We found that passive smoking (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.20), rather than active smoking (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.93-1.07), led to an increased risk of CBTs. The results suggested a higher risk in 0-1 year old children (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.94-1.56), followed by 0-4 years old children (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.97-1.28) and 5-9 years old children (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.95-1.29). This meta-analysis found no significant association between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and CBTs risk (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.80-1.24). An increased risk of CBTs was found to be associated with maternal consumption of caffeinated beverages (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07-1.26) during pregnancy, especially coffee (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00-1.38).

Conclusions: Maternal passive smoking, consumption of caffeinated beverages during pregnancy should be considered as risk factors for CBTs, especially glioma. More prospective cohort studies are warranted to provide a higher level of evidence.

Keywords: Childhood brain tumor (CBT); Glioma; Maternal alcohol consumption; Maternal caffeinated beverages consumption; Maternal smoking.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking* / adverse effects
  • Alcohol Drinking* / epidemiology
  • Beverages / adverse effects
  • Brain Neoplasms* / chemically induced
  • Brain Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Brain Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Caffeine* / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Observational Studies as Topic*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / epidemiology

Substances

  • Caffeine