Tea and coffee: older women bones

A new study from Flinders University in Australia offers insight into how two of the most popular drinks in the world, coffee and teacan influence bone health in women. The research, published in the journal Nutrientsfollowed almost 10,000 women aged 65 or older over a decade to explore whether their daily coffee or tea drinking habits were related to changes in bone mineral density (BMD), a key indicator of osteoporosis risk.

The osteoporosis It is a major global health problem that affects one in three women over 50 years old and contributes to millions of fractures each year. Since billions of people around the world consume coffee and tea daily, understanding their impact on bone health is crucial. So far, the evidence has been mixed, and few studies have looked at these relationships over such a long period of time.

The Flinders University team analyzed data from the Osteoporotic Fracture Study, using repeated measures of both beverage intake and BMD at the hip and femoral neck, areas strongly associated with fracture risk. For ten years, participants reported their coffee and tea consumptionwhile researchers measured bone density using advanced imaging techniques.

The study has revealed that those who drank tea had a bone mineral density hip total slightly greater than those who did not. While the difference was modest, it was statistically significant and could have significant implications at the population level.

“Even small improvements in bone density can translate into fewer fractures in large groups,” says Associate Associate Professor Enwu Liu of the College of Medicine and Public Health.

The coffeeon the other hand, revealed a more complex story. In general, moderate coffee consumption, two to three cups a daydid not appear to harm bone health. However, drinking more than five cups a day was associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD), suggesting that excessive consumption could be harmful.

Interestingly, women with higher lifetime alcohol consumption experienced more negative effects of coffee, while The tea appeared to be especially beneficial for women with obesity.

Ryan Liu, co-author of the paper, says compounds called catechins, abundant in tea, may promote bone formation and slowing its decomposition. “In contrast, the caffeine content of coffee has been shown in laboratory studies to interfere with calcium absorption and bone metabolism, although these effects are small and can be offset by adding milk,” Liu says.

The findings suggest that enjoying a cup of tea every day could be a simple way to support bone health as we age. “While drinking coffee in moderation seems safe, very high consumption may not be ideal, especially for women who drink alcohol,” says associate associate professor Enwu Liu.

The authors caution that the observed differences, although statistically significant, are not large enough to justify drastic changes for individuals. “Our results don’t mean we should give up coffee or start drinking tea in large quantities. But they do suggest that Moderate tea consumption could be a simple way to promote bone healthand that very high coffee consumption may not be ideal, especially for women who drink alcohol,” says the associate professor.

Yes ok calcium and vitamin D are still essential for bone health, the contents of the cup could also play a role. For older women, enjoying a cup of tea daily can be more than a comforting ritual; It could be a small step towards stronger bones, he concludes.