CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
Coffee is the most commonly consumed beverage and the consumption rate is on the increase. There seems to be a concomitant increase also on hormonal imbalance and other gynecological issues. Caffeine is the active ingredient in coffee (Furrukh, 2010).
Coffee is known to have beneficial effects as a result of its antioxidant properties however its harmful effects is mainly due to its caffeine content (Furrukh, 2010).
The history of coffee as a drink is ladened with controversies, over the ages some of the world’s greatest composers, thinkers and statesmen have extolled coffee’s virtues while others have denounced it as a poisonous mind corrupting drug (Bryan, 2010).
A research involving 9,000 women found that drinking high levels of caffeine decreases the chances of conceiving by 25 per cent due to its inhibiting contraction in the fallopian tubes which aid transport of eggs to the womb, providing an intriguing explanation as to why women with high caffeine consumption often take longer to conceive than women who consume no caffeine says study leader Prof. Sean ward from the University of Nevada, Reno. Wilcox et al. found a 50% reduction in the probability of conception per cycle with the intake of one cup of coffee per day (Wilox et al., 1988). In intake of caffeine in pregnancy have been likewise shown to cause retarded growth of the fetuses’ but simply giving more sucrose prevented the growth retardation. A study conducted on 1063 pregnant women found that pregnant women who consumed 200mg or more of coffee per day had twice the risk of miscarriage than women who consumed no coffee with a ratio of 25.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent (De- Kun, 2008). However epidemiological studies in Danish women showed no association between delayed conception and consumption of caffeinated beverages (Alderete et al, 1995). Likewise, Caan et al. found that women who drank more than half a cup of tea per day had a significant increase in fertility (Caan et at., 1998). Caffeine synergizes with progesterone and increases its concentration in the blood and tissues (Concas et al., 2000). Regarding the conflicting results of epidemiological studies on caffeine and its effects on reproductive outcomes, caffeine-containing foods and beverages still remain one of the most consumed by most human populations of the world, its health effects have been and are still being studied extensively (Gross and Bracken 2005).
Furthermore recent study showed that long term distraction of caffeine to female mice decreased the production of progesterone (Mandal et at., 2007), Similarly it was found that oral gavages of 136mg/kg per day of caffeine 5 days per week for a total of 100 days, blocks normal oogenesis in adult rats (Boyd et at., 1965). Jagiello et al reported that subcutaneous administration of 25mg/kg per day of caffeine prevented hormonally induced superovulation in adult mice. (Jagiello et al., 1972).
There seems to be dearth of reports on the effect of coffee in reducing progesterone levels but some anecdotal reports from women suggest this to be true (Leslie, 2008).
1.1 Aim of Study
This study wishes to investigate the effect of coffee on the serum level of Progesterone in pregnant Albino Wistar Rats.
1.2 Objectives of Study
- To access the effect of Coffee on the body weight of Albino Wistar rat
- To determine the dose of Coffee that can alter Serum Progesterone Level
1.3 Scope of Work
This study was limited to effect of coffee (120mg/kg, 80mg/kg) on serum progesterone level on albino female rats.
1.4 Significance of Study
This study will play a key role in the investigation of human reproductive functions, and fertility with regards to hormonal changes, lifestyle and diet, and exposing further benefit and dangers of coffee consumption.
1.5 Justification of Study
Coffee consumption is common among races and animal studies have shown the potency of this drink in altering body activities. The effects on hormones and reproductive system are still unclear.