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Tea Consumption and Depression from Follow Up in the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study
1Tze Pin Ng (MD), Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 9, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Fax: 65-67772191, Tel: 65-67724518 / 65-67723478,
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging
|February 12, 2021
Summary
Regular tea consumption, especially Chinese varieties, may help prevent worsening depression symptoms and reduce the risk of developing depression in older adults. This study highlights tea
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Tea polyphenols are suggested to possess antidepressant properties.
- Tea consumption may mitigate depression risk and severity.
- Investigating tea's role in geriatric depression is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between tea consumption and changes in depressive symptoms.
- To assess tea's impact on incident depression and symptom worsening in older adults.
- To provide evidence for tea as a potential preventative measure for depression.
Main Methods:
- Population-based prospective cohort study (Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study).
- Followed 3177 community-living older adults (mean age 67) for 4 years.
- Assessed baseline tea consumption (Chinese and Western types) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) changes, adjusting for multiple covariates.
Main Results:
- Consuming ≥3 cups of tea daily was associated with significantly less worsening of GDS symptoms (OR=0.32).
- Daily tea consumption, particularly Chinese tea, reduced the risk of incident depression (GDS≥5) in initially depression-free participants (OR=0.34 for all tea, OR=0.46 for Chinese tea).
Conclusions:
- Tea consumption may prevent the deterioration of existing depressive symptoms in older adults.
- Regular tea intake appears to lower the likelihood of developing clinically significant depression.
- Findings support tea as a potential dietary intervention for geriatric mental well-being.
