Can Coffee and Tea Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?

Dutch researchers have performed a study on the association of coffee and tea drinking with the risk of type 2 diabetes, and reported their findings in the journal Diabetologia.  The study was part of the Dutch contribution to the large European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.  It comprised a group of 40,000 persons with an average follow-up of 10 years. 

A food-frequency questionnaire was used to “assess coffee and tea consumption and other lifestyle and dietary factors.”  More than 5 cups of either coffee or tea daily was associated with a reduced risk oof developing type 2 diabetes.  At least 3 cups of coffee or tea reduced the risk of diabetes by about 40%.   These findings were independent of blood pressure, magnesium, potassium or actual caffeine intake.

The benefits of coffee drinking have been reported before.    The effect of coffee drinking on the causation of type 2 diabetes is firmed up by this newest study.  Published findings for tea in this respect, however, are generally weaker, so that further confirmation is probably needed.  At any rate, drinking either beverage is not going to harm you, and may, indeed, help your health.