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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Feb 28;18(1):95.
doi: 10.1186/s12891-017-1456-x.

Is tea consumption associated with the serum uric acid level, hyperuricemia or the risk of gout? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Yi Zhang  1 , Yang Cui  2 , Xuan-An Li  1 , Liang-Jun Li  1 , Xi Xie  1 , Yu-Zhao Huang  1 , Yu-Hao Deng  1 , Chao Zeng  1 , Guang-Hua Lei  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Is tea consumption associated with the serum uric acid level, hyperuricemia or the risk of gout? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Yi Zhang et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the associations of tea consumption with the serum uric acid (SUA) level, hyperuricemia (HU) and the risk of gout.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search up to June 2016, using PUBMED and EMBASE databases, was conducted to identify the relevant observational studies that examined the associations of tea consumption with the SUA level, HU and the risk of gout.

Results: A total of fifteen observational studies were included in this study, and nine studies were extracted for meta-analysis. For the SUA level, seven studies were included. According to the combined weighted mean difference (WMD), there was no significant difference between the highest and the lowest tea intake category in terms of the SUA level (WMD = 7.41 μmol/L, 95%CI: -2.34 to 17.15; P = 0.136). In subgroup analysis including three studies, green tea consumption was positively associated with the SUA level (WMD = 17.20 μmol/L, 95%CI: 7.00 to 27.40; P = 0.01). For the prevalence of HU, five studies were included. The overall multi-variable adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the highest versus the lowest category of tea consumption was 0.98 (95%CI: 0.77 to 1.24; P = 0.839). For the risk of gout, two prospective cohort studies showed that there was no relationship between tea consumption and the risk of gout in males and females, respectively.

Conclusion: The current evidences suggest that tea consumption does not seem to be associated with the SUA level, HU and the risk of gout. However, due to the limited number of studies, green tea consumption might be positively associated with the SUA level. More well-designed prospective cohort studies are needed to elaborate these issues further.

Keywords: Gout; Hyperuricemia; Meta-analysis; Serum uric acid; Systematic review; Tea.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart for the identification of the included studies
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot of meta-analysis: WMD of SUA concentration between the highest and the lowest tea intake category
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot of meta-analysis: WMD of SUA concentration between the highest and the lowest green tea intake category
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Forest plot of meta-analysis: Overall multi-variable adjusted OR of HU for the highest versus the lowest category of tea consumption
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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