Beverage Consumption Linked to Lower Glaucoma Odds

HealthDay News — Individuals who consume hot tea daily may have a lower risk of developing glaucoma, according to a study published online December 14 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Connie M. Wu, from Brown University in Providence, RI, and colleagues evaluated the association between consumption of coffee, tea, or soft drinks, and glaucoma among 1,678 participants of the 2005 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. 

The researchers found that the overall prevalence of glaucoma was 5.1% (84 patients). There were no significant associations between glaucoma and consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, iced tea, and soft drinks. However, participants who consumed at least one cup of hot tea daily had a 74% decreased odds of having glaucoma versus those who did not drink hot tea (adjusted odds ratio, 0.26). However, the association was not significant for decaffeinated hot tea and glaucoma.

“This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and use of multiple statistical testing, and larger prospective studies are needed to investigate the proposed association between tea consumption and decreased glaucoma risk,” the authors write.

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