Researchers from Flinders University (Australia) examined the effect of tea and coffee on bone health in older women. The study’s findings, released in the journal Nutrients, indicated that tea may help reinforce bone structure, whereas excessive coffee consumption has an adverse impact.
Ten thousand women aged 65 and over participated in the investigation. Participants reported their daily intake of tea and coffee, and scientists measured bone density in the hip joint area and the femoral neck—regions where fractures most frequently occur.
The work’s conclusions were as follows:
Women who consumed tea displayed slightly greater bone density compared to those who abstained.
Over five cups of coffee daily decreased bone density.
In women who consumed alcohol, coffee had an even more pronounced negative effect.
Tea proved especially beneficial for women with obesity.
The scientists attribute the beneficial action of tea to its high catechin content, which promotes bone formation and slows their breakdown. Caffeine, conversely, hinders calcium absorption.
The investigators stress that calcium and vitamin D exert the main influence on bone well-being. Nevertheless, bone health can be maintained by drinking tea and limiting coffee intake or by adding milk to it.
About the Author
