Choice of Tea or Coffee Could Influence Osteoporosis Risk in Older Women

Tea linked to stronger bones

Women who regularly drank tea had slightly but significantly higher hip bone mineral density compared with those who did not drink tea.

Researchers suggest this benefit may be linked to catechins, natural compounds in tea that could support the activity of bone-building cells. The association appeared particularly strong among women with obesity.

Coffee showed mixed effects

Coffee consumption produced more complex results. Women who drank more than five cups of coffee per day were more likely to have lower bone mineral density, supporting previous research suggesting that high caffeine intake may interfere with calcium absorption.

Additionally, any level of coffee consumption was associated with reduced femur bone density in women who had higher lifetime alcohol intake, indicating that the effects of caffeine and alcohol on bone health may compound one another.

Important limitations