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Tea and coffee consumption in relation to depression and anxiety symptoms: findings from the multicentric LIPOKAP study
Mental health issues are becoming increasingly prevalent, and specific dietary habits may influence their prevalence. This research investigates the potential link between tea and coffee consumption and mental health, particularly depression and anxiety, within the context of Iranian culture. Conducted between February 2018 and July 2019, the study involved 1,994 adults selected through a stratified multi-stage cluster sampling method across five major Iranian cities.
Researchers assessed participants’ tea and coffee intake using self-reported daily or weekly consumption. Tea was categorized into three distinct groups, while coffee consumption was divided into two categories: non-consumers and consumers. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were evaluated using the Iranian-validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Using binary logistic regression models, the study examined odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for both depression and anxiety symptoms while controlling for various confounding factors. The findings indicated no statistically significant links between tea consumption and either depressive or anxiety symptoms in both crude and adjusted models (p-trend > 0.05).
In contrast, initial analyses revealed an inverse association for coffee drinkers consuming at least one cup per day compared to non-drinkers, showing a depression risk reduction (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43–0.84; p = 0.003) and a similar trend for anxiety (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54–0.99; p = 0.045). Nevertheless, when adjusting for confounding variables, these associations were weakened. The fully adjusted model suggested that coffee consumption might be linked to a reduced risk of depression (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49–1.01; p = 0.057) but found no significant correlation with anxiety.
These results indicate that while tea intake does not correlate with depression or anxiety, coffee consumption may have a protective effect against depressive symptoms. Further prospective cohort studies are necessary to validate these findings. [NPID: Tea, coffee, depression, anxiety]
Year: 2026
