Older Women Who Drink Black Tea Are Better Protected Against Hip Fractures, Study Shows

Older women who drink plenty of black tea every day — at least three cups of black tea specifically — are significantly less likely than their peers to develop hip fractures, according to research from the Genetic Factors for Osteoporosis Consortium (GEFOS).

Using a study that viewed the relationship between adults' calcium intake and their risk of hip fractures, researchers found that, in more than 1,000 women with an average age of 75, those who drank a minimum of three cups a day, with or without milk, had a 34 percent lower risk of developing a serious osteoporotic (bone) fracture, and a 42 percent lower risk of developing a hip fracture.

"Previous studies, including our own, have demonstrated a beneficial effect of tea, a major source of dietary flavonoids, on bone structure," researcher Dr. Richard L. Prince wrote in an abstract presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2015 Annual Meeting.

Now, data suggests that older women who drink plenty of tea might also enjoy a lower risk of bone fractures. Though more research is needed, Dr. Prince said that he "absolutely" recommended that elderly women looking for protection against fractures drink more tea.