Does coffee drinking have beneficial effects on bone health of Taiwanese adults? A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Results from studies investigating the association between coffee consumption and osteoporosis or bone mineral density (BMD) have been inconsistent. This longitudinal study was performed to assess the effect of coffee drinking on bone health of Taiwanese adults. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Li-Shin (Landseed) Hospital in Taoyuan City. In 2006, 6152 participants completed a questionnaire on coffee drinking and other lifestyle factors. In 2014, 5077 of them were followed up. Nonetheless, a total of 2395 participants with incomplete data were excluded. The final analyses included 2682 participants comprising 1195 men and 1487 women (706 premenopausal and 781 postmenopausal). T-scores were derived from the osteo-sono assessment index (OSI) which is a surrogate of BMD. Coffee drinking was categorized as "no, medium, and high" based on the number of cups that were consumed per week in both 2006 and 2014. RESULTS: In general, medium and high coffee drinking were associated with higher T-scores. However, significant results were observed only among high drinkers (ß = 0.158; P = 0.0038). Nonetheless, the test for linear trend was significant (P = 0.0046). After stratification by sex, medium and high coffee drinking were associated with higher T-scores. However, significant results were prominent only among high male drinkers (ß = 0.237; P = 0.0067) and the test for trend was significant (P = 0.0161). Based on menopausal status, coffee drinking was associated with higher T-scores. Nevertheless, significant results were found only among premenopausal women (ß = 0.233; P = 0.0355 and ß = 0.234; P = 0.0152 for medium and high coffee drinking, respectively. The test for linear trend was significant (P = 0.0108). CONCLUSION: Coffee drinking was significantly associated with higher T-scores hence, a lower risk of osteoporosis in men and premenopausal women.

The use of fine nets to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes on dry farmland in southern Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: The stagnate water stored in buckets traditionally used by farmers in southern Taiwan to irrigate their dry farmland, serves as favorable breeding ground for Aedes aegypti, the vector of the dengue virus. The public health bureau there distributed fine nets to the farmers to cover their buckets to reduce vector breeding sites. The goal of this study was to compare the container index (CI) in Alian and Tianliao Townships, Kaohsiung County in southern Taiwan over a 2-year period, for 1 year before the fine nets were distributed and 1 year after. METHODS: In March 2005, we selected eight villages in Alian Township and 10 in Tianliao Township. Specialists monitored the local Stegomyia indices every month. We compared the 2005 CI to the 2004 CI, representing the years before and after the nets were used. The results of the comparisons were analyzed by paired t-test and Wilcoxon rank test. RESULTS: In Alian Township, mean CI had significantly reduced to 1.63 levels (May 2005) from a mean 5.88 level in May 2004 (paired t-test, p=0.001 and Wilcoxon rank signed test, p=0.0012). In Tianliao Township, CI was reduced to 1.2 from 2.3 in May 2004 (p<0.0001 and p=0.007, paired t-test and Wilcoxon rank signed test, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The nets effectively reduced the CIs in these townships, and might be considered for wide scale use. The mosquito nets were generally welcomed by the farmers who found them to be convenient, inexpensive and practical.