A decade-long study reveals tea drinkers exhibit slightly higher hip bone density, suggesting a benefit for bone health in older women. While moderate coffee intake appears safe, excessive consumption (over five cups daily) was linked to lower bone density. Researchers highlight tea’s catechins may aid bone formation, offering a simple dietary addition for stronger bones.
Forget spending thousands of dollars on supplements to make your bones stronger. A simple beverage that you can make at home will help you improve your bone health. A new study by researchers at Flinders University looked into how two of the world’s most popular beverages, coffee and tea, may influence bone health in older women. One is linked to stronger bones, while the other may pose risks.
The findings are published in the journal Nutrients.
Osteoporosis a rising health concern
Osteoporosis is a common bone disease, resulting in weak and brittle bones. It is a major global health condition affected one in three women over the age of 50. This disease is a major contributor to millions of fractures each year. Bone health is important, especially as one ages. The falls can result in fractures and can affect quality of life. As billions worldwide consume coffee and tea, the researchers wanted to understand whether this was linked to changes in bone mineral density (BMD), a key indicator of osteoporosis risk.
Role of coffee and tea in bone health
The researchers followed nearly 10,000 women aged 65 and older over a decade. Previous evidence showed mixed results on the impact of coffee and tea intake on osteoporosis; however, a few studies have tracked these relationships over such an extended period.To better understand if there is an association, the researchers analysed data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. They took repeated measures of both beverage intake and BMD at the hip and femoral neck, areas strongly associated with fracture risk.
For over 10 years, the participants reported their coffee and tea consumption. The researchers also measured bone density using advanced imaging techniques.What they found was striking! They found that tea drinkers had a slightly higher total hip BMD compared to non-tea drinkers. Though the difference is modest, it was still significant. “Even small improvements in bone density can translate into fewer fractures across large groups,” Enwu Liu, Adjunct Associate Professor from the College of Medicine and Public Health, said. Coffee, on the other hand, had a rather complex story. Though moderate consumption (2-3 cups per day) did not harm bone health, more than that was harmful. Drinking more than five cups daily was linked to lower BMD, which means excessive intake may be detrimental.The researchers also found that women with higher lifetime alcohol consumption experienced more negative effects from coffee, while tea seemed particularly beneficial for women with obesity.“Coffee’s caffeine content, by contrast, has been shown in laboratory studies to interfere with calcium absorption and bone metabolism, though these effects are small and can be offset by adding milk,” Ryan Liu, co-author on the paper, said adding that compounds called catechins, abundant in tea, may promote bone formation and slow bone breakdown.The study suggests that enjoying a cup of tea each day could be a simple way to support bone health as we age! “While moderate coffee drinking appears safe, very high consumption may not be ideal, especially for women who drink alcohol,” Adjunct Associate Professor Enwu Liu added. “Our results don’t mean you need to give up coffee or start drinking tea by the gallon. But they do suggest that moderate tea consumption could be one simple way to support bone health, and that very high coffee intake might not be ideal, especially for women who drink alcohol. While calcium and vitamin D remain cornerstones of bone health, what’s in your cup could play a role too. For older women, enjoying a daily cup of tea may be more than a comforting ritual, it could be a small step toward stronger bones,” he concluded.
