Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCaffeine & Calcium AbsorptionCaffeine & Osteoporosis RiskCounteracting Caffeine’s EffectsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Caffeine & Calcium Absorption
Caffeine & Osteoporosis Risk
Counteracting Caffeine’s Effects
Frequently Asked Questions
Caffeineconsumption appears to increase your risk of losingbone density, which can lead toosteoporosis(brittle bone disease) andbroken bones.
This article looks at the research behind caffeine and osteoporosis, how much caffeine is too much, what it means for your osteoporosis risk, and how to mitigate it.
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Worldwide, about 80% of adults drink at least one caffeinated beverage daily. That includes coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and hot chocolate.Meanwhile, about 55 million Americans are believed to have osteoporosis or low bone density.
Worldwide, about 80% of adults drink at least one caffeinated beverage daily. That includes coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and hot chocolate.
Meanwhile, about 55 million Americans are believed to have osteoporosis or low bone density.
Caffeine and Calcium Absorption
The problem with caffeine is that it interferes with how your body usescalcium, which is essential to bone health. For calcium to do its job of maintaining your bone health, your body first has to absorb it.
Multiple studies suggest that high levels of caffeine consumption prevent calcium absorption, so the important mineral flushes out of your system and down the toilet when you urinate.
Here’s How Much Calcium You Need to Get Per Day
How Much Is Too Much?
So far, research suggests that only high levels of caffeine consumption are a problem. But what’s considered high?
Most studies say less than 400 milligrams (mg) daily poses no significant risk of health problems, including osteoporosis.
For perspective, 400 mg of coffee equals roughly:
Again, that amount of caffeine would equal about eight cups of coffee, up to 20 sodas, or 10 Red Bulls during the average workday.
But researchers say urine calcium levels may only present part of the picture. The total effect of caffeine consumption on your body’s use of calcium is still to be determined.
And it’s important to note that studies haven’t looked at the results of low or moderate caffeine consumption over many years.
When comparing caffeine amounts on labels, be sure to check the serving sizes, as well.
What This Means for Your Osteoporosis Risk
If you regularly consume moderate to high amounts of caffeine, you may want to take steps to lower yourosteoporosis risk.
Additional Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
Many factors influence your risk of developing osteoporosis. Some you can change, and others you can’t.
If you have multiple unchangeable risk factors, you may want to work harder at the ones you can control. Unmodifiable risk factors include:
Assigned Sex and OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is four times more likely in people assigned female at birth than those assigned male.
Assigned Sex and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is four times more likely in people assigned female at birth than those assigned male.
Certain conditions can also increase your risk. It’s possible that getting proper treatment for other conditions may lower your osteoporosis risk. These conditions include:
Some medications also increase your risk of losing bone density. They include:
If your osteoporosis risk is high, ask your healthcare provider whether an alternative medication would be better for you.
Calcium Supplements and Thyroid Drugs
Modifiable risk factors include:
How to Counteract the Effects of Caffeine
Withdrawal SymptomsIf you eliminate or reduce caffeine intake, you may have withdrawal symptoms for several days. They include:HeadacheFatigueBad mood/irritabilityConcentration problemsNausea and vomitingStiff, sore muscles
Withdrawal Symptoms
If you eliminate or reduce caffeine intake, you may have withdrawal symptoms for several days. They include:HeadacheFatigueBad mood/irritabilityConcentration problemsNausea and vomitingStiff, sore muscles
If you eliminate or reduce caffeine intake, you may have withdrawal symptoms for several days. They include:
Other ways you can improve your bone health include:
If you’re at risk for osteoporosis, talk to your healthcare provider about abone density test. After an osteoporosis diagnosis, make sure you take the prescribedmedication.
Be sure to include your healthcare provider in decisions about nutritional supplements, dietary changes, and increased physical activity. They can help you make the right decisions.
What Are the Stages of Osteoporosis?
Summary
High levels of caffeine intake may increase your risk of osteoporosis. About 400 mg a day or less probably won’t cause bone loss (or other health problems), while 800 mg or more is considered the threshold for osteoporosis risk.
To mitigate this risk, you can consume less caffeine, increase calcium intake, exercise more, stop smoking, and drink less alcohol.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your caffeine intake, osteoporosis risk factors, and what changes are best for your health.
Bone Health and Aging
Yes, you can drink coffee with osteoporosis. Research generally says 400 mg of caffeine or less per day is a perfectly fine amount.Everyone is different, so you should talk to your healthcare provider about the amount that’s safest for you.
Yes, you can drink coffee with osteoporosis. Research generally says 400 mg of caffeine or less per day is a perfectly fine amount.
Everyone is different, so you should talk to your healthcare provider about the amount that’s safest for you.
Research suggests that 800 mg of caffeine a day may increase bone loss, which could worsen your osteoporosis.Some studies suggest that 400 mg per day isn’t associated with osteoporosis or other health problems.
Research suggests that 800 mg of caffeine a day may increase bone loss, which could worsen your osteoporosis.
Some studies suggest that 400 mg per day isn’t associated with osteoporosis or other health problems.
Learn MoreCan Osteoporosis Be Reversed?
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis fast facts.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much?University of Utah.Caffeine content of popular drinks.University of South Australia.Caffeine cuts close to the bone when it comes to osteoporosis.UC San Diego Health.Osteoporosis risk factors.Pouresmaeili F, Kamalidehghan B, Kamarehei M, et al.A comprehensive overview on osteoporosis and its risk factors.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2018;14:2029-2049. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S138000Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Are you at risk?Alswat KA.Gender disparities in osteoporosis.J Clin Med Res.2017;9(5):382-387. doi:10.14740/jocmr2970wHarvard Health Publishing.5 ways to boost bone strength early.Additional ReadingCenter for Science in the Public Interest.Caffeine chart.Reuter SE, Schultz HB, Ward MB, et al.The effect of high-dose, short-term caffeine intake on the renal clearance of calcium, sodium and creatinine in healthy adults.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;87(11):4461-4466. doi:10.1111/bcp.14856
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis fast facts.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much?University of Utah.Caffeine content of popular drinks.University of South Australia.Caffeine cuts close to the bone when it comes to osteoporosis.UC San Diego Health.Osteoporosis risk factors.Pouresmaeili F, Kamalidehghan B, Kamarehei M, et al.A comprehensive overview on osteoporosis and its risk factors.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2018;14:2029-2049. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S138000Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Are you at risk?Alswat KA.Gender disparities in osteoporosis.J Clin Med Res.2017;9(5):382-387. doi:10.14740/jocmr2970wHarvard Health Publishing.5 ways to boost bone strength early.Additional ReadingCenter for Science in the Public Interest.Caffeine chart.Reuter SE, Schultz HB, Ward MB, et al.The effect of high-dose, short-term caffeine intake on the renal clearance of calcium, sodium and creatinine in healthy adults.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;87(11):4461-4466. doi:10.1111/bcp.14856
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis fast facts.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much?University of Utah.Caffeine content of popular drinks.University of South Australia.Caffeine cuts close to the bone when it comes to osteoporosis.UC San Diego Health.Osteoporosis risk factors.Pouresmaeili F, Kamalidehghan B, Kamarehei M, et al.A comprehensive overview on osteoporosis and its risk factors.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2018;14:2029-2049. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S138000Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Are you at risk?Alswat KA.Gender disparities in osteoporosis.J Clin Med Res.2017;9(5):382-387. doi:10.14740/jocmr2970wHarvard Health Publishing.5 ways to boost bone strength early.
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis fast facts.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much?
University of Utah.Caffeine content of popular drinks.
University of South Australia.Caffeine cuts close to the bone when it comes to osteoporosis.
UC San Diego Health.Osteoporosis risk factors.
Pouresmaeili F, Kamalidehghan B, Kamarehei M, et al.A comprehensive overview on osteoporosis and its risk factors.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2018;14:2029-2049. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S138000
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Are you at risk?
Alswat KA.Gender disparities in osteoporosis.J Clin Med Res.2017;9(5):382-387. doi:10.14740/jocmr2970w
Harvard Health Publishing.5 ways to boost bone strength early.
Center for Science in the Public Interest.Caffeine chart.Reuter SE, Schultz HB, Ward MB, et al.The effect of high-dose, short-term caffeine intake on the renal clearance of calcium, sodium and creatinine in healthy adults.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;87(11):4461-4466. doi:10.1111/bcp.14856
Center for Science in the Public Interest.Caffeine chart.
Reuter SE, Schultz HB, Ward MB, et al.The effect of high-dose, short-term caffeine intake on the renal clearance of calcium, sodium and creatinine in healthy adults.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;87(11):4461-4466. doi:10.1111/bcp.14856
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