Effects of caffeine on the saturated and monounsaturated Fatty acids of the newborn rat cerebellum.

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is one of the most commonly consumed drugs in our daily life, and its use is increasing. However, very little attention has been paid to its potential effects on early growth and development. Because of the steady increase in breast feeding of infants and because caffeine diffuses readily into breast milk, the present study examined if caffeine intake by newborn rats during lactation would affect the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the growing cerebellum.