Researchers in China have found that regularly drinking tea is linked to a reduced risk of vascular disease. The study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, reported an 11% lower risk among regular tea drinkers compared to non-drinkers.
The research analysed data from 485,934 people in China. During a typical follow-up period of nine years, there were 14,863 cases of vascular disease (VD) among the group. VD includes heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, pulmonary heart disease and peripheral artery disease.
Findings on Tea Strength and Consumption
The findings suggested that moderate-strength tea was associated with a lower risk, while “burning hot” tea may be linked to a higher risk of VD. The lowest estimated risk was seen at approximately six to eight cups per day among weekly tea drinkers, who typically consumed 2.78 cups per day.
Additionally, the study found that tea consumption combined with not smoking and exercising was associated with the lowest risk of vascular disease.
UK Experts Urge Caution
Experts in the UK have noted the findings but stressed that more work is needed before recommendations can be made on the optimal dose of tea. Dell Stanford, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: “People who regularly drank tea in this study had around an 11% lower relative risk of vascular disease, adding to evidence linking tea drinking with better cardiovascular health.
“But this doesn’t prove that a daily cuppa protects your heart. This was an observational study and other differences in people’s diets and lifestyles could help explain the findings. Although the lowest estimated risk was seen at around six to eight cups a day, we shouldn’t treat that as a recommended amount.
“Tea intake was only measured once, cup size wasn’t standardised and the study cannot prove that drinking more tea caused the lower risk. Importantly, the findings point to the wider role of healthy lifestyle habits.
“The lowest risk was seen among people who drank tea, did not smoke and were physically active. There’s no single food or drink that will transform our heart health; our overall diet and lifestyle matter much more.
“Finally, because this research was carried out in China, we need further evidence before assuming the findings apply in the same way to people in the UK.”
The study has been published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
