Study Reveals Drinking Black Tea Every Day Can Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Illustration of black tea. (Unsplash/Egor Lyfar)

JAKARTA - Consumption of black tea every day can help maintain the stability of blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to recent studies.

The results of a study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, people who drink black tea every day have a 53 percent reduction in pre-diabetic risk and 47 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes, with this statistic consistent even after accounting for factors such as age, ethnicity, BMI and lifestyle habits.

Previously, various studies have highlighted the health benefits of tea, including its potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the exact mechanism that drives this benefit remains unclear.

"Our findings hint at the protective effect of tea drinking habits on blood sugar management through increased glucose excretion in urine, increased insulin resistance, and thus better blood sugar control," said Prof. Tongzhi Wu, co-author of a joint study from the University of Adelaide and South-East University in China., reported by The National News October 10.

Prof Wu said that although the study did not mention how many cups of tea a person needs to drink every day to see the benefits, the study found daily consumption effectively reduces the risk of pre-diabetics and diabetes.

"Black tea production involves microbial fermentation, which generally produces a number of bioactive compounds and their derivatives, including alkaloids, free amino acids, polyphenols and polysocides," explained Prof Wu.

This process produces different bioactive compounds, including alkaloids and polyphenols, which exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

He explained that the compound can increase insulin sensitivity, optimize the function of pancreatic beta cells, and change the composition of intestinal bacteria.

Prof Wu highlighted that useful ingredients in black tea work similarly to a new diabetes drug group, called the SGLT2 inhibition. This drug is not only effective in dealing with diabetes but also protects the heart and kidneys.