Rheumatoid arthritis from tea?

Prof Christohper Collins reported on a study of over 75,000 US women aged 50-79 at the annual congress of EULAR (European League Against Rheumatoid Arthritis). The team found tea drinking was linked to an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), whereas coffee drinking was not.

Women who drank tea had a 40% higher risk of RA compared to those who drank none. Women who drank 4 or more cups of tea per day had a nearly 80% higher risk than non-drinkers.

The team also checked on all kinds of coffee consumption (filtered/unfiltered, caffeinated/decaf) and did not find any significant link between any of these and RA.

The researchers were not able to determine whether there is any cause and effect mechanism in action between tea and RA.