Researchers in Iran recently published a study showing that drinking black and green tea, coffee, and non-alcoholic beer is associated with a lower incidence of developing symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
On the other hand, consumption of certain other beverages is linked to a higher probability of developing the disease. Soft drinks had the most significant correlation, at 16.2 times. Drinking milk and natural fruit juices showed a 5.5- and 2.5-times higher correlation with MS.
Drinking 500 grams or more of brewed tea daily appears to reduce the likelihood of MS onset by 80%. Consuming at least 16 grams a day of brewed green tea corresponded to a 71% lower risk of MS.
People who reported drinking non-alcoholic beer were 52% less likely to develop MS, but the greatest correlation was for coffee, which appears to have lowered the likelihood by 93%.
The research, published in the Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, was reported in Multiple Sclerosis Today. This is the first study to explore the correlation between the onset of MS and the consumption of various beverages.
Earlier research looked at how tea can impact MS symptoms. Green tea has been has been shown to improve gait and balance in MS patients. WebMD cites a small study that teas rich in epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, may help ease symptoms. People saw results after they drank green tea every day for at least three months. The drink may also bolster the immune system, reduce inflammation, and slow the effects that MS can have on cognition.
MS is a medical condition whereby the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating around nerve fibers that helps them send electric signals, resulting in a range of symptoms.
Several risk factors appear to contribute to MS, including genetics, history of infection, and demographic factors such as sex and race. In addition, lifestyle habits, such as smoking and consuming a high-fat diet, are also believed to play a role in onset of the disease.
In the new study, researchers followed 146 MS patients at an Iranian hospital and compared them to 277 age-matched controls. Control participants were selected from the ophthalmology ward of the hospital.
The results require further study, but the team noted that beverages that contain high levels of polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may reduce the activation of the immune system and protect the nervous system.