Tea Consumption and Longitudinal Change in High‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration in Chinese Adults

BACKGROUND: The relation between tea consumption and age‐related changes in high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) concentrations remains unclear, and longitudinal human data are limited. The aim of current study was to examine the relation between tea intake and longitudinal change in HDL‐C concentrations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Baseline (2006) tea consumption was assessed via a questionnaire, and plasma HDL‐C concentrations were measured in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012 among 80 182 individuals (49±12 years of age) who did not have cardiovascular diseases or cancer, or did not use cholesterol‐lowering agents both at baseline (2006) and during the follow‐up period (2006–2012). The associations between baseline tea consumption and rate of change in HDL‐C concentrations were examined using generalized estimating equation models. Tea consumption was inversely associated with a decreased rate of HDL‐C concentrations (P‐trend <0.0001) in the fully adjusted model. The adjusted mean difference in the HDL‐C decreased rate was 0.010 (95% confidence interval, 0.008, 0.012) mmol/L per year for tea consumers versus nonconsumers (never or less than once/month group). Interactions between tea consumption and age, sex, lifestyle scores, and metabolic syndrome (all P‐interaction <0.0001) were identified. The associations between greater tea consumption and slower decrease in HDL‐C concentrations were more pronounced in men, individuals aged 60 or older, individuals with a lower lifestyle score, and individuals with metabolic syndrome (all P‐trend <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Tea consumption was associated with slower age‐related decreases in HDL‐C concentrations during 6 years of follow‐up. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.chictr.org. Unique identifier: ChiCTR‐TNRC‐11001489.