Tea may strengthen bones in older women while heavy coffee weakens them

A decade-long study of older women found that tea drinkers had slightly stronger bones, while moderate coffee drinking caused no harm. Heavy coffee intake—over five cups a day—was linked to lower bone density, especially in women who consumed more alcohol. Tea’s benefits may stem from catechins that support bone formation. The researchers say small daily habits could make a meaningful difference over time.

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The study, published in the journal Nutrients, monitored nearly 10,000 women aged 65 and older for ten years to examine whether regularly drinking coffee or tea was connected to changes in bone mineral density (BMD). BMD is a central marker used to assess osteoporosis risk.

Osteoporosis affects one in three women over 50 and leads to millions of fractures every year, making bone health an important global issue. Because coffee and tea are part of daily routines for billions of people, researchers note that understanding their long-term effects on bones is essential. Previous findings have often been inconsistent, and few studies have followed such a large group across an entire decade.

Researchers at Flinders University used information from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, drawing on repeated measures of beverage intake and BMD at the hip and femoral neck. These areas are closely tied to fracture risk.

Throughout the ten-year period, participants regularly reported how much coffee and tea they consumed. At the same time, bone density was assessed using advanced imaging tools.

Results showed that women who drank tea had slightly higher total hip BMD than those who did not. Although the improvement was small, it was statistically significant and may matter when considering the health of a large population.

"Even small improvements in bone density can translate into fewer fractures across large groups," says Adjunct Associate Professor Enwu Liu from the College of Medicine and Public Health.

Findings for coffee were more varied. Moderate intake, roughly two to three cups a day, was not associated with harm. However, consuming more than five cups per day was linked to lower BMD, indicating that very high levels of coffee could negatively affect bone strength.

Women with higher lifetime alcohol intake appeared particularly vulnerable to coffee's negative effects, whereas tea showed stronger benefits in women with obesity.

Ryan Liu, co-author of the study, explains that tea is rich in catechins, compounds that may encourage bone formation and help slow bone loss.

"Coffee's caffeine content, by contrast, has been shown in laboratory studies to interfere with calcium absorption and bone metabolism, though these effects are small and can be offset by adding milk," says Ryan Liu from Flinders University.

"While moderate coffee drinking appears safe, very high consumption may not be ideal, especially for women who drink alcohol," he says.

The researchers emphasize that while the results are statistically meaningful, the differences are not dramatic enough to require sweeping lifestyle changes.

"Our results don't mean you need to give up coffee or start drinking tea by the gallon," says Associate Professor Liu.

"But they do suggest that moderate tea consumption could be one simple way to support bone health, and that very high coffee intake might not be ideal, especially for women who drink alcohol.

"While calcium and vitamin D remain cornerstones of bone health, what's in your cup could play a role too. For older women, enjoying a daily cup of tea may be more than a comforting ritual, it could be a small step toward stronger bones," he concludes.

The SOF study received support from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), with funding provided through grants (AG05407, AR35582, AG05394, AR35584, and AR35583).

Materials provided by Flinders University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.