NEW YORK, USA – A refreshing finding for coffee and tea drinkers: Increasing consumption of these beverages, along with plain water, may reduce the risk of premature death by approximately 25% in individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
Conversely, the research also highlights the peril of sugar-sweetened drinks, which could increase the risk of heart disease by 25% and the risk of dying from a cardiovascular event by 29%.
“Certain beverages are absolutely more beneficial than others, depending on which type of beverage you’re comparing,” said study author Qi Sun, an associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. “Based on our study, I would rank black coffee, unsweetened tea, and plain water higher than low-fat milk, fruit juice, or artificially sweetened beverages.”
Sun warned against consuming sugar-sweetened beverages like colas and fruit juices high in sugar and whole fat milk high in saturated fat, citing these as known risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and premature cardiovascular disease.
The research, published Wednesday in the BMJ, encompassed nearly 15,500 adults in the U.S. with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, primarily female respondents averaging 61 years of age. The study analyzed participants’ dietary data collected every two to four years over an average of 18 years.
The analysis showed that the risk of death from any cause increased by 20% for those who consumed the most sugar-sweetened beverages compared to those who consumed the least. The risk of dying from a cardiovascular event rose by 29%.
Conversely, drinking high amounts of coffee, tea, water, and low-fat milk was associated with lower mortality. These beverages correlated with a 26%, 21%, 23%, and 12% lower risk of premature death.
In terms of cardiovascular disease specifically, a higher intake of coffee was linked with an 18% reduced risk, and low-fat milk with a 12% reduction.
The study also provided a silver lining for those who frequently consumed sugar-sweetened beverages prior to their type 2 diabetes diagnosis. When these sweet drinks were replaced with healthier alternatives such as coffee, tea, plain water, and low-fat milk post-diagnosis, the risk of premature death decreased significantly.
However, the study has limitations. No data was available on the types of tea consumed or whether participants added sugar to coffee or tea, making the health effects of sweetened versus unsweetened hot beverages unclear, according to Nita Forouhi, program leader and investigator of nutritional epidemiology at the UK’s University of Cambridge.
She emphasized that despite the study’s observational nature, the findings are compelling and underscore the importance of beverage choice.
“The case for avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages is compelling,” said Forouhi. “Choice of beverage clearly matters.”
