People who drink black tea may be less likely than others to develop diabetes, researchers claimed today.
Countries where drinking black tea is common have relatively low rates of type 2 diabetes, according to a report in BMJ Open.
The study of 50 countries found the highest rates of black tea drinking in Ireland, the UK and Turkey.
Very little is drunk in Mexico, Morocco, Brazil and China, the researchers say.
The researchers found a link with rates of diabetes but not with rates of heart disease, lung disease or cancer.
Black tea is made by fermenting green tea and the researchers say this may create a range of complex plant chemicals, such as theaflavins and thearubigins, which are thought to have health benefits.
The researchers admit that the findings do not mean black tea prevents diabetes – as they could simply indicate lifestyles less likely to lead to type 2 diabetes.
Researcher Dr Ariel Beresniak, of Data Mining International, Geneva, Switzerland, said: "These original study results are consistent with previous biological, physiological, and ecological studies conducted on the potential of [black tea] on diabetes and obesity."
BMJ Open November 8 2012
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