Several studies have shown that relatively large doses of caffeine are necessary to produce a diuretic effect in individuals who habitually consume caffeine. It has also been shown that drinks with a low caffeine content are likely to promote, rather than impair, hydration. In spite of this, it is still not unusual to see consumers warned against the consumption of caffeinated drinks at times when hydration status may be precarious, and this advice may actually be counter-productive if another drink is not substituted for those eliminated from the diet.
This study adds to the available evidence. 21 healthy males undertook four trials where tea (4 x 240 ml or 6 x 240 ml providing 168 or 252 mg of caffeine) or the same amounts of water were consumed over a 12 h period during which food intake was standardised and subjects remained at rest. A range of blood and urine parameters used as markers of hydration status were measured throughout the 12 h study period and a 24 h urine collection was undertaken. Analysis of the results showed no difference in any of the blood or urine parameters. The authors concluded that black tea, in the amounts studied, offered similar hydrating properties to water. Though these results are not particularly novel, they do add further weight to the idea that drinks containing small amounts of caffeine should not be avoided because of concerns over potential diuresis leading to negative fluid balance.
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Abstract [button text=”View at PubMed” url=”http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21450118″ target=”_blank” color=”blue”][/button]
[blockquote]There is a belief that caffeinated drinks, such as tea, may adversely affect hydration. This was investigated in a randomised controlled trial. Healthy resting males (n 21) were recruited from the general population. Following 24 h of abstention from caffeine, alcohol and vigorous physical activity, including a 10 h overnight fast, all men underwent four separate test days in a counter-balanced order with a 5 d washout in between. The test beverages, provided at regular intervals, were 4 × 240 ml black (i.e. regular) tea and 6 × 240 ml black tea, providing 168 or 252 mg of caffeine. The controls were identical amounts of boiled water. The tea was prepared in a standardised way from tea bags and included 20 ml of semi-skimmed milk. All food taken during the 12 h intervention period was controlled, and subjects remained at rest. No other beverages were offered. Blood was sampled at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 h, and a 24 h urine sample was collected. Outcome variables were whole blood cell count, Na, K, bicarbonate, total protein, urea, creatinine and osmolality for blood; and total volume, colour, Na, K, creatinine and osmolality for urine. Although data for all twenty-one participants were included in the analysis (mean age 36 years and mean BMI 25·8 kg/m(2)), nineteen men completed all conditions. Statistical analysis, using a factorial ANOVA approach within PROC MIXED, revealed no significant differences between tea and water for any of the mean blood or urine measurements. It was concluded that black tea, in the amounts studied, offered similar hydrating properties to water.[/blockquote]