Monday, December 21, 2009

Tea and coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Australian researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that pooled data from more than 30 studies of the association between tea and coffee consumption and the risk of developing type 2 diabet. About a million of participants were involved.

They found that "high intake of coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and/or tea is associated with a reduction in the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes" and the compound magnesium and antioxidants in tea and coffee may be involved.

Critics said the studies lacked sufficient data on the effects of these beverages or their components on measures of hyperglycaemia and insulin sensitivity, therefore the mechanisms involved is still unknown. It may not be possible to generalise these findings to other populations because only a small number of particpants were non-white.

Further research into the effect of these beverages on diabetes is warranted, but it is advised that people should not increase their tea or coffee consumption based on these findings.

Source: Huxley R, Man Ying Lee C, Barzi F, et al. "Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, and Tea Consumption in Relation to Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus". Arch Intern Med 2009; 169: 2053-2063

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