Study Links Tea and Coffee Consumption to Bone Health

Researchers from Flinders University conducted a 10-year study involving nearly 10,000 women aged 65 and older to assess the impact of tea and coffee consumption on bone health. The study found that tea consumption was associated with slightly higher bone mineral density (BMD), an important measure of bone strength and osteoporosis risk.

Women who drank tea had slightly higher total hip BMD compared to those who did not, although the difference was modest. Conversely, women consuming more than five cups of coffee daily exhibited lower bone density.

Moderate coffee consumption (two to three cups daily) did not correlate with poorer bone health. The study revealed that the negative impact of heavy coffee consumption on bone density was more pronounced among women with higher lifetime alcohol consumption, while the positive association of tea consumption was stronger among women with obesity.

The findings, published in the journal Nutrients, suggest that while moderate tea consumption may benefit bone health, excessive coffee intake could have drawbacks.