Researchers at Flinders University have found that regular tea consumption increases bone density in older women, while drinking more than five cups of coffee a day decreases it, reports infohub.kz.
In a decade-long study involving nearly 10,000 women aged 65 and older, scientists tracked participants' beverage consumption and used precise tomography to measure bone mineral density in the hip and femoral neck, which is directly linked to fracture risk in osteoporosis.
Women who drank coffee in moderation showed no deterioration, but those who consumed five or more cups a day had lower-than-normal readings. The effect was more pronounced in women who also regularly drank alcohol. Meanwhile, tea showed a small but statistically significant strengthening effect, attributed to its catechins.
Caffeine interferes with calcium absorption, though this effect is partially offset by adding milk. The authors stress that the findings do not require giving up coffee entirely, but moderation and a couple of cups of tea a day can help maintain bone health in old age.