Daily Dark Tea Consumption Reduces Type 2 Diabetes Risk by 47%, Study Reveals

Regular dark tea consumption, as highlighted at the meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Hamburg happening this week, may lower the risk and progression of type 2 diabetes.

This is attributed to improved blood sugar control, with dark tea potentially enhancing glucose excretion and reducing insulin resistance. While dark tea is viewed as a beneficial tool for blood sugar management, experts advise considering an overall diet for comprehensive health.

Protective Benefits of Drinking Tea on Blood Sugar

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia and Southeast University in China conducted a study revealing that daily consumption of dark tea is associated with a 53% lower risk of prediabetes and a 47% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in adults.

The study took into account established diabetes risk factors, such as age, gender, ethnicity, BMI, blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol, alcohol use, smoking, family history, and exercise.

The study's co-lead author, Associate Professor Tongzhi Wu, suggests that habitual tea drinking may protect against diabetes by enhancing glucose excretion in urine, improving insulin resistance, and thus better managing blood sugar levels. These benefits were most significant among daily dark tea drinkers.

Dark tea's unique microbial fermentation process during production may produce bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, enhance insulin sensitivity, improve pancreatic beta cell function, and influence gut bacteria composition.

The study involved 1,923 adults in China, with varying glucose tolerance levels, and considered different tea types, including green, black, dark, or other, as well as consumption frequencies.

Daily tea consumption was associated with increased urinary glucose excretion and reduced insulin resistance, leading to a 15% lower risk of prediabetes and a 28% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes compared to never-tea drinkers. These benefits were most pronounced among dark tea drinkers.

The researchers noted that the actions of bioactive compounds in dark tea may affect glucose excretion in the kidneys, similar to the mechanism of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a class of anti-diabetic drugs.

While the study shows promising results, it's important to remember that it is observational and cannot establish causation. The researchers are planning a randomized trial to validate their findings and address potential confounding factors.

What Is Dark Tea?

The study specifically focuses on dark tea, which is distinct from black tea and is fully oxidized, characterized by microbial fermentation that alters leaf color, similar to iron rusting.

A notable example of dark tea is Pu-erh from China, available on online and health stores. In contrast, black tea is highly oxidized, green tea remains unoxidized, yellow tea undergoes slight fermentation, and dark tea experiences post-fermentation, which may impact its influence on blood sugar regulation.

Experts view dark tea favorably as a potential tool for blood sugar management due to its ease of access and potential health benefits, including hydration's influence on glucose response. Nevertheless, factors like the cost of specialty tea, taste preferences, and the temptation to add sugar need consideration, along with limited availability in supermarkets.

They recommend consuming dark tea for blood sugar management, emphasizing the importance of enjoying it without sugar or sweeteners to preserve its recognized benefits. Exploring a variety of teas, such as dark, black, green, and white, is advised to access their diverse advantages in lowering blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and enhancing antioxidant status.

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