Caffeine therapy may help premature babies' brains: Study
A
daily dose of caffeine
may safely boost the brain development
and lung function in premature
babies, according to researchers, including one of Indian origin.
In
neonatal intensive care units, or NICUs, premature babies born under 29 weeks
are given a daily dose of caffeine to ensure the best possible start to life,
said researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada.
The
study, published in the journal Pediatrics, shows the earlier the dose of caffeine
can be given, the better.
"Caffeine
is the most commonly used drug in the NICU after antibiotics," said Abhay
Lodha, an associate professor at the University of Calgary.
"It's
important that we understand the long-term effects of caffeine as a treatment
and ensure these babies are not only surviving, but have quality of life down
the road," Lodha said.
He
collaborated with researchers from the University of British Columbia and Mount
Sinai Hospital to analyse data from 26 NICUs across Canada. Read
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