Coffee and Tea Consumption Influence Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk

by | Apr 22, 2016 | 2002, Arthritis, Autoimmune Disease, Caffeine, Joint Health

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Drinking more than 3 cups of tea daily decreased the risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 61% while drinking more than 4 cups of decaffeinated coffee increased the risk by 63%.  

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control states that 1.5 million American suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2007 (1). While an exact cause for rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown, it is thought that both genetic and environmental factors, including cigarette smoke (2, 3), oral contraceptive use and hormone replacement therapy (4, 5), and even some foods (6) contribute to the condition.

Research (7) has started to suggest that consuming coffee and tea may influence your risk for rheumatoid arthritis. In the study, researchers analyzed data on 31,336 women between the ages of 55 and 69 participating in the Iowa Women’s Health Study (8). Coffee and tea intake were assessed using a 127-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (9) and rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed using American College of Rheumatology criteria (10).

The researchers found that compared to those reporting no consumption of tea, those drinking more than 3 cups per day of tea had a 61% decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.05). Those consuming more than 4 cups of decaffeinated coffee had a 63% increased risk (p < 0.05). Consumption of caffeinated coffee showed no relation to rheumatoid arthritis risk.

When suggesting mechanisms responsible for the influence of coffee and tea on rheumatoid arthritis risk, the researchers point to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties of tea (11) in helping reduce risk. In regards to decaffeinated coffee consumption increasing risk, the researchers cite the use of industrial solvents like benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride that is used to decaffeinate coffee (12). The researchers suggest “it is conceivable that chronic ingestion of even small amounts could have a negative biologic effect on humans.”

For the researchers, “Decaffeinated coffee intake is independently and positively associated with rheumatoid arthritis onset, while tea consumption shows an inverse association with disease onset.” They further concluded that “Given the economic and health-related impact of rheumatoid arthritis, coupled with the global popularity of coffee and tea, these findings have potential public health implications” and that “Future investigations of coffee and tea as potential RA risk factors are required to verify and further explore the biologic basis of our findings.”

Source: Mikuls, Ted R., et al. “Coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: results from the Iowa Women’s Health Study.” Arthritis & Rheumatism 46.1 (2002): 83-91.

© 2002, American College of Rheumatology

Posted October 6, 2015.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.

Editor’s Note: “…The health effects of caffeine have been extensively studied. Short term side effects such as headache, nausea, and anxiety have been shown as symptoms of mild caffeine consumption. The long-term effects of moderate caffeine consumption can be a reduced risk of developing hepatic (liver) diseases, and cardiovascular disease. Caffeine competitively inhibits different adenosine receptors (which relax the brain and heart) . . . to make a person feel alert (but increases heart rate). A mild stimulant of the central nervous system, caffeine also stimulates cardiac muscle, relaxes smooth muscle, increases gastric secretions, and produces diuresis (more urination).”. Source: Wikipedia, October 24, 2014.

References:

  1. “Arthirits Related Statistics” posted on the CDC Website
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  8. Folsom A, Kaye S, Prineas R, Potter J, Gapstur S, Wallace R. Increased incidence of carcinoma of the breast associated withabdominal adiposity in postmenopausal women. Am J Epidemiol 1990;131:794–803
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  10. Arnett FC, Edworthy SM, Bloch DA, McShane DJ, Fries JF, Cooper NS, et al. The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1988;31:315–24
  11. Yang C, Wang Z. Tea and cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85: 1038–49
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