For Release at 5:30 PM PT, Sunday Nov. 11, 2001
For More Information, ContactTammy Cussimanio(404) 633-3777 until Nov. 7(415) 905-1005 Nov. 10 - Nov. 15[email protected]
Skip the decaf coffee and have a cup of tea instead
Drinking decaffeinated coffee may increase your risk developing rheumatoid arthritis if you're an older woman, according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting Nov. 10 - 15 in San Francisco, California.
In a prospective study involving older women from the Iowa Women's Health Study, women who reported consuming 4 or more cups of decaffeinated coffee daily were more than twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis during the course of follow-up. In contrast, large amounts of tea intake (greater than 3 cups a day) were associated with an approximate 60% reduction in risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease that affects 1 percent of the adult population. Although not fatal, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, damage, and loss of function in many joints as well as inflammation in other body organs. More than 75 percent of cases occur in women. It usually develops during childbearing years but can also begin in late adulthood.
"Given the global popularity of both coffee and tea intake, coupled with the societal costs related to rheumatoid arthritis, these findings may have an important public health impact if confirmed by other investigators," said Ted R. Mikuls, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama-Birmingham, and an investigator in the study.
The American College of Rheumatology is the professional organization for rheumatologists and health professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. For more information on the ACR's annual meeting, see http://www.rheumatology.org.
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