Tea consumption and the risks of osteoporosis and hip fracture: a population-based longitudinal follow-up study

SUMMARY: This population-based longitudinal follow-up study showed a protective effect of tea consumption against osteoporosis, particularly among women and middle-aged people. High tea consumption was also associated with a reduced risk of hip fracture. INTRODUCTION: To investigate the association of tea consumption with the risks of osteoporosis and hip fracture. METHODS: This study used the Keelung Community-based Integrated Screening database and Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 42,742 subjects aged 45 to 74 years were enrolled. Each was classified as no tea consumption, low tea consumption, and high tea consumption, according to the results of an eating habits questionnaire. The diagnosis of osteoporosis and hip fracture was based on BMD measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and the X-ray findings. The median follow-up time was 8.5 years. RESULTS: As compared with the no tea consumption group, the osteoporosis HRs for the low tea consumption and high tea consumption groups were 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–0.96) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.80–0.94), respectively. Among those participants aged 59 or below, the osteoporosis HRs for low tea consumption and high tea consumption (vs. no tea consumption) were 0.85 (95% CI 0.74–0.96) and 0.79 (95% CI 0.69–0.90). The HRs of hip fracture for the low tea consumption and high tea consumption groups (vs. no tea consumption) were 0.85 (95% CI 0.67–1.08) and 0.69 (95% CI 0.55–0.86), respectively. CONCLUSION: Tea consumption was linked to a lower risk of osteoporosis, particularly among women and middle-aged people. High tea consumption was also associated with a reduced risk of hip fracture.