Khaberni - Scientists from Edith Cowan University discovered that moderate consumption of tea and coffee is associated with improved lung function and a reduced risk of chronic respiratory diseases.
The study included about 367,000 participants in the UK Biobank project, where researchers compared data on tea and coffee consumption and indicators of lung function, such as forced expiratory volume and vital capacity, systemic inflammation levels, and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
The researchers used repeated 24-hour diet recalls and food records to accurately assess diet, and results showed that low to moderate consumption—half a cup to two cups of tea or coffee daily—is associated with improved lung functions, reduced inflammation, and a lower risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It was also found that coffee is linked to a decreased risk of asthma in adults.
Separate analyses indicated that consuming large amounts of tea might be associated with an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among non-smokers, but this association disappeared after excluding participants with pre-existing respiratory symptoms, and no similar effect was observed for coffee.
The researchers emphasized that moderation is the key factor, indicating that tea and coffee could be part of a healthy diet, but exceeding moderate amounts does not enhance the potential protective effect and could reflect other factors such as smoking or changes in the habits of individuals in poor health conditions.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Food & Function.
