Researchers claim that and tea affect the risk of developing osteoporosis in older women differently. It’s important to understand some nuances of this impact.
A Brief Introduction
Few older women would turn down a cup of or coffee. However, recent research indicates that the daily choice between tea and coffee significantly influences bone health as we age.
Osteoporosis is a common issue among women over 50, with one in three women in this age group diagnosed with the condition. The disease develops when the body cannot replace old bone tissue as it breaks down, leading to brittle and weak bones that are prone to fractures.
Older women are at higher risk for developing because estrogen levels drop after menopause, a hormone that supports bone tissue metabolism. Surgical removal of the ovaries can have the same negative effect.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
A team of scientists from Flinders University conducted a large-scale study involving about 9,700 American women aged 65 and older. During surveys conducted four times over ten years, participants reported their preferences for coffee or tea consumption.
The researchers also collected data on the bone health of these women by measuring bone mineral density in the hip joint and the narrow part of the femur where it connects to the hip joint using X-rays.
Women who regularly drank tea had slightly higher bone density in the hip area compared to those who did not. This may be linked to certain compounds found in tea (known as catechins) that can stimulate the cells responsible for bone formation. Researchers also noted that tea consumption helped overweight women effectively manage their weight.
On the other hand, the results regarding coffee consumption were mixed, as reported by Science Alert. Women who drank more than five cups of coffee a day were more likely to have lower bone mineral density. This supports previous findings that highlighted the negative impact of caffeine on calcium absorption.
Coffee consumption, regardless of the amount, was also associated with decreased mineral density in the femur among women who regularly consumed alcohol throughout their lives.
“Our results do not mean you need to give up coffee or start drinking tea by the gallon. However, they suggest that moderate tea consumption could be one simple way to support bone health, while excessive coffee intake may be undesirable, especially for women who drink alcohol,” said epidemiologist Enwu Liu, the lead author of the study.
“While calcium and vitamin D remain cornerstones of bone health, tea in your cup can also play an important role. For older women, a daily cup of tea may not just be a pleasant ritual but a step toward strengthening bones,” he added.
The study’s findings were published in the journal Nutrients.
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