Black Tea Helps Treat Osteoporosis

Black tea could help treat osteoporosis, a bone condition affecting older people, revealed scientists of Osaka University. However, they admit that one needs to drink an awful lot of it. Researchers found that black tea contains an antioxidant, theaflavin-3 (TF-3), that can prevent the loss of bone density, by inhibiting the function of an enzyme called DNA methyltransferase, which destroys bone tissue.

During the study, mice suffering from osteoporosis were given TF-3, and they exhibited recovering levels of bone volume, similar to those of healthy mice. However, the research found that a 60 kilogramme (130-pound) adult would have to drink 60 cups of tea over three days to see a noticeable difference.

The research is published in the online edition of the US journal Nature Medicine on Monday.

Source-Medindia