Association of coffee and tea consumption with osteoporosis risk: A prospective study from the UK biobank

Objective The association of coffee and tea consumption with osteoporosis is highly controversial, and few studies have focused on the combined effects of the two beverages. This study aimed to investigate the independent and combined associations of coffee and tea consumption with osteoporosis risk. Methods A prospective cohort study involving 487,594 participants aged 38–73 years from the UK Biobank was conducted. Participants with reported coffee and tea consumption and without osteoporosis at baseline were included. Coffee and tea consumption were assessed via a touch-screen questionnaire at baseline. Newly diagnosed osteoporosis during the follow-up period, defined based on ICD-10 codes (M80-M82), was the primary outcome. Cox regression analyses were utilized to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Dose-effect associations were assessed using restricted cubic spline analysis. Results During a median follow-up of 12.8 years, 15,211 cases of osteoporosis were identified. Compared to individuals without coffee or tea consumption, drinking coffee was associated with an HR of 0.93 (95 % CI: 0.89–0.96), and tea consumption with an HR of 0.86 (95 % CI: 0.83–0.90). Continuous trends were significant for both coffee and tea consumption, showing non-linear associations with osteoporosis incidence. Moderate consumption, such as 1–2 cups of coffee or 3–4 cups of tea per day, was associated with a lower incidence of osteoporosis, with HRs of 0.9 (95 % CI: 0.86–0.94) and 0.85 (95 % CI: 0.81–0.90), respectively. Additionally, combined coffee and tea consumption displayed a U-shaped association with osteoporosis risk, with the lowest risk observed in individuals who consumed 1–2 cups of both beverages daily, with an HR of 0.68 (95 % CI: 0.61–0.75). Conclusion Our findings highlight the potential benefits of moderate coffee and tea consumption in reducing the risk of osteoporosis.