Excessive Coffee Consumption May Contribute to Reduced Bone Density in Older Women, Study Suggests

New research from Flinders University indicates that coffee and tea may influence bone health in distinct ways among older women.

Published in Nutrients, the study followed nearly 10,000 women aged 65 and older over a 10-year period. Investigators explored whether routine coffee and tea consumption was linked to changes in bone mineral density (BMD), a key indicator used to evaluate osteoporosis risk.

Osteoporosis represents a significant global health concern, affecting approximately one in three women over the age of 50 and contributing to millions of fractures annually. Given that billions of individuals consume coffee or tea daily, even minor effects on bone health could carry widespread implications. Earlier research has yielded inconsistent results, and few studies have tracked participants over such an extended timeframe.

Examining Coffee, Tea, and Bone Density

The research team drew on data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, periodically evaluating participants’ beverage consumption patterns and measuring BMD at the hip and femoral neck, both critical sites for fracture risk assessment.

Throughout the decade-long study, participants consistently reported their coffee and tea intake. Researchers employed advanced imaging techniques to track changes in bone density over time.

Findings revealed that women who consumed tea had marginally higher total hip BMD compared to non-tea drinkers. Although the difference was modest, it reached statistical significance and could prove meaningful across broader populations.

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

High Coffee Intake Associated with Lower Bone Density

Coffee presented a more nuanced pattern. Moderate consumption, approximately two to three cups daily, showed no adverse association with bone health. However, women consuming more than five cups per day exhibited lower BMD, indicating that excessive coffee intake may have detrimental effects.

The relationship also varied based on other health and lifestyle factors. Women with greater lifetime alcohol consumption experienced more pronounced negative effects from coffee, while the apparent benefits of tea were especially notable among women with obesity.

Co-author Ryan Liu suggested that catechins, compounds abundant in tea, may encourage bone formation while reducing bone breakdown.

“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,” explained Ryan Liu from Flinders University.

Potential Benefits of Daily Tea Consumption

Adjunct Associate Professor Enwu Liu added that these findings suggest regular tea consumption could serve as a straightforward approach to supporting bone health in later years.

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

The researchers stress that the observed differences were relatively modest. Despite achieving statistical significance, the magnitude of the effects does not warrant substantial modifications to individual daily routines.

“Our results don’t mean you need to give up coffee or start drinking tea by the gallon,” Associate Professor Liu clarified.

“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 concluded.

The paper, ‘Longitudinal Association of Coffee and Tea Consumption with Bone Mineral Density in Older Women: A 10-Year Repeated-Measures Analysis in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures’, by Ryan Yan Liu and Enwu Liu was published in Nutrients.

Acknowledgments: The funding for the SOF study comes from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), supported by grants (AG05407, AR35582, AG05394, AR35584, and AR35583).

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