The Association between Tea Consumption and the Risk of Fracture: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Objectives Inconsistent results exist on the role of tea consumption on subsequent risk of fracture. A dose-response metaanalysis was therefore conducted to assess the association of tea consumption with the risk of fracture based on prospective cohort studies. Methods The electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched to identify prospective cohort studies from inception until September 2020. The categories of high versus low and dose-response meta-analyses for tea consumption on the risk of fracture were calculated using the random-effects model. Eight prospective cohort studies recruited 774,134 individuals selected for the final meta-analysis. Results An increment of 1 cup in tea consumption was not associated with the risk of fracture [relative risk (RR), 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96-1.00; P = 0.102]. Moreover, the highest tea consumption category was associated with a reduced risk of fracture (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98; P = 0.005). Furthermore, heavy (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.98; P = 0.008) and mild (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-1.00; P = 0.046) tea consumption were associated with lower risk of fracture. However, moderate tea consumption was not associated with the risk of fracture (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.94-1.02; P = 0.281). Conclusion This study found that increased tea consumption may provide a protective role in the risk of fracture. The benefits of tea consumption should be further explored according to the characteristics of the individuals.