Association between caffeine intake and lumbar spine bone mineral density in adults aged 20–49: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Many epidemiological studies have investigated the connection between coffee intake and bone mineral density (BMD), but the results are controversial. This study aimed to assess the association between caffeine consumption and lumbar BMD in adults aged 20–49. METHODS: From a cross-sectional study based on a large sample of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018. After controlling for confounders, the weighted multivariate linear regression model was created and stratified by age, gender, and race for subgroup analysis. In addition, we simultaneously stratified analysis by age and sex and divided caffeine intake into quartiles to assess the association between coffee intake and BMD. RESULTS: Caffeine intake was not significantly linked with lumbar BMD in this study of 7041 adults. In subgroup studies stratified by age, there was a significant correlation between lumbar BMD and caffeine consumption in participants aged 30–39 and 40–49. In females, there was a positive correlation between lumbar BMD and coffee consumption stratified by gender. When evaluated by race, the association between lumbar BMD and caffeine intake was independent of race. Consequently, when stratifying for age, sex, and coffee intake quartiles, a significant positive correlation was discovered between the fourth coffee intake quartile and lumbar BMD in females aged 30–39. In addition, a negative correlation was discovered between coffee consumption and lumbar BMD in males aged 40–49. CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicates that drinking coffee may benefit 30–39 women’s lumbar BMD, but it may adversely affect men aged 40–49.