Hot beverages linked to increased esophageal cancer risk in UK study

A large-scale study involving nearly one million participants in the United Kingdom suggests that consuming very hot tea or coffee may be linked to an increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Researchers analyzed data from approximately 977,000 individuals through the ‘Million Women Study’ and the ‘UK Biobank’.

Findings indicate that individuals who prefer very hot beverages face a relative risk of 3.17 times higher for this specific type of cancer compared to those who prefer warm drinks. The risk increased by 69% for those preferring hot drinks and by 71% for those consuming six or more hot beverages daily.

No significant difference was found between tea and coffee drinkers, nor did the addition of milk appear to mitigate the temperature-related risks. The results align with previous warnings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classified beverages exceeding 65 degrees Celsius as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’. While the study does not prove causation, researchers suggest that reducing beverage temperature could serve as a preventative measure.