Study Says Drinking Black Tea Every Day May Help Reduce Diabetes Risk
The experts from the research also cautioned that while the findings do not conclusively prove that drinking tea every day increases blood sugar levels, they suggest that it is likely to contribute.
By Melissa Alvina — 09 Oct 2023, 03:04 PM
A recent study by the University of Adelaide, Australia found that the daily consumption of black tea may help reduce the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults
The research, which included experts from the Southeast University in China, examined the relationship between how often a person drinks tea, the type of tea consumed, and their blood sugar control.
The study observed 1,923 participants from China, consisting of 436 individuals with diabetes, 352 with prediabetes, and 1,135 with normal glucose levels.
It was discovered that individuals who consumed black tea daily had a 53% lower risk for prediabetes and a 47% lower risk for type 2 diabetes compared to non-tea drinkers.
According to the University of Adelaide, the analysis of the participants' data revealed that drinking black tea every day was associated with increased glucose excretion in urine and a reduction in insulin resistance.
The participants were both non-habitual tea drinkers and those with the habit of drinking a single type of tea.
The researchers suggested that the benefit linked to black tea might stem from the way the teas are produced
The University of Adelaide stated that teas like Pu'er are produced through microbial fermentation.
This process can produce bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, free amino acids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and their derivatives.
These compounds are said to demonstrate strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, improve insulin sensitivity, and the performance of pancreatic beta cells, as well as altering bacterial composition in the gut.
Associate Professor Tongzhi Wu, co-lead author of the study at University of Adelaide, stated that their findings provide further insight into the benefits of tea consumption in managing blood sugar
"The substantial health benefits of tea, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, have been reported in several studies over recent years, but the mechanisms underlying these benefits have been unclear," the university quoted him as saying.
"Our findings hint at the protective effects of habitual tea drinking on blood sugar management via increased glucose excretion in urine, improved insulin resistance and thus better control of blood sugar. These benefits were most pronounced among daily dark tea drinkers," he said.
However, as the study was only observational, the researchers are currently working on a double-blind, randomised trial to validate their findings.
