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Oxford study links very hot drinks to tripled oesophageal cancer risk
A large-scale study led by the University of Oxford has found that consuming very hot tea and coffee is linked to a significantly higher risk of developing oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The research, published in the International Journal of Cancer, analyzed data from nearly 980,000 adults in the UK over a period of up to 14 years, utilizing datasets from the Million Women Study and UK Biobank.
Findings indicate that individuals who prefer their beverages “very hot” face approximately a threefold higher risk of SCC compared to those who drink them “warm.” Additionally, consuming six or more hot drinks per day was associated with a 71% increase in risk, regardless of temperature. The study noted that these findings specifically apply to SCC and did not show a strong association with oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
Researchers suggest that repeated exposure to high temperatures—often cited as 65°C or above—may cause thermal damage to the cells lining the oesophagus, potentially leading to mutations. While experts emphasize that smoking and alcohol remain primary risk factors for oesophageal cancer, they recommend allowing hot drinks to cool to a comfortable temperature before consumption to mitigate risk.
Entities
Cancer Research UK · International Journal of Cancer · Keren Papier · UK Biobank · United Kingdom · University of Oxford
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Beverages exceeding 65 degrees Celsius are classified as ‘potentially carcinogenic’. www.sawt-alasima.net · arabic.euronews.com · www.shfanews.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] Consuming more than six hot beverages daily is associated with a 71% increased risk of esophageal cancer, regardless of temperature. www.sawt-alasima.net · www.shfanews.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] People who prefer very hot beverages are more than three times as likely to develop esophageal squamous cell carcinoma compared to those who prefer warm beverages. www.sawt-alasima.net · arabic.euronews.com · www.shfanews.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] No increased risk was found for adenocarcinoma, another major type of esophageal cancer. www.sawt-alasima.net · www.shfanews.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] The study analyzed data from approximately 980,000 adults in the United Kingdom over more than a decade. www.sawt-alasima.net · www.shfanews.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] The study shows an association between hot beverages and cancer but does not prove a direct causal relationship. www.sawt-alasima.net · www.shfanews.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] Consuming very hot tea, coffee, and other beverages may increase the risk of esophageal cancer. www.sawt-alasima.net · arabic.euronews.com · www.shfanews.net