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Data from Asian populations on dietary and lifestyle factors associated with Parkinsons disease are sparse. In 1993–2005, the authors examined these factors in relation to Parkinsons disease in the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective cohort of 63,257 Chinese men and women. Baseline data were collected through in-person interviews using structured questionnaires. All 157 incident Parkinsons disease cases were identified either through follow-up interviews or via linkage with hospital discharge databases and Parkinsons disease outpatient registries and were confirmed by review of medical records. Current versus never smokers exhibited a reduced risk of Parkinsons disease (relative risk = 0.29, 95% confidence interval: 0.16, 0.52). Total caffeine intake was inversely related to Parkinsons disease risk (p for trend = 0.002); the relative risk for the highest versus lowest quartile was 0.55 (95% confidence interval: 0.35, 0.88). Black tea, a caffeine-containing beverage, showed an inverse association with Parkinsons disease risk that was not confounded by total caffeine intake or tobacco smoking (p for trend = 0.0006; adjusted relative risk for the highest vs. lowest tertile of intake = 0.29, 95% confidence interval: 0.13, 0.67). Green tea drinking was unrelated to Parkinsons disease risk. Diet had no strong influence on risk. Ingredients of black tea other than caffeine appear to be responsible for the beverages inverse association with Parkinsons disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]