Background: The relation between maternal coffee intake with offspring mandibular condylar growth is still inconclusive and has not been examined.
Objective: To compare the effect of green versus roasted coffee on condyle growth in rats' offspring.
Materials and Methods: Eighteen male Wistar albino rats' offspring were obtained from 6 adult female Wistar albino rats at birth. On the first day of gestation, the pregnant rats were divided randomly into 3 groups. Group I: Control group received 5 ml of distilled water (2 rats). Group II: Green coffee group received 5 ml of green coffee (2 rats). Group III: Roasted coffee group received 5 ml of roasted coffee. Both coffee types were used at an optimum dose equal to 2 cups in humans. The distilled water and both coffee types were daily administered during pregnancy and lactation periods. The offspring were euthanized at birth and 21 days (weaning time). The condyles were dissected and then processed for histological and histomorphometric analysis.
Results: At birth, the control group showed well developed erosive zone. The green coffee group showed fine bone spicules in the osteogenic zone, while the roasted coffee group showed well-developed woven bone. At 21 days, the osteogenic zone in the control group showed numerous spicules of woven bone. The green coffee showed fine bone trabeculae of cancellous bone studded with numerous osteoclasts, while roasted coffee showed well-developed cancellous bone.
Conclusions: The roasted coffee accelerates and improves the growth of the condyle, while green coffee induces signs of osteoporosis.