Association between tea consumption and glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in the Shanghai High-risk Diabetic Screen (SHiDS) study

Abstract

Introduction The relationship between tea consumption and glucose metabolism remains controversial. This study investigated the associations of tea consumption with impaired glucose regulation, insulin secretion and sensitivity in Shanghai High-risk Diabetic Screen project.Research design and methods A total of 2337 Chinese subjects were enrolled in the study from 2014 to 2019. Each participant conducted a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with five-point glucose and insulin level examined. They also completed a nurse-administered standard questionnaire including tea, coffee, and alcohol consumption, smoking habit, physical activity, education, sleep quality, etc.Results The result showed that tea consumption was positively associated with plasma glucose levels during OGTT after adjusting for confounder (Ps <0.05) and was associated with worsening glucose tolerance (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01–1.44; p=0.034). Strong tea consumption or long-term tea intake (>10 years) had an increased risk of glucose intolerance (all p<0.05). These associations did not vary in participants drinking green tea. In addition, insulin secretion indexes were decreased 7.0%–13.0% in tea consumption group. Logistic regression analysis showed that tea consumption was independently associated with lower insulin secretion (homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68–0.97; p=0.021); Stumvoll first-phase index (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68–0.97; p=0.020)) in a fully adjusted model. Green tea consumption showed a negative association with insulin secretion (HOMA-β (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62–0.96; p=0.019)).Conclusions Tea intake is associated with an increased risk of glucose intolerance in a large high-risk diabetic Chinese population. Habitual tea consumption subjects might have lower pancreatic β-cell function.