University of Oxford study links hot drinks to oesophageal cancer risk

oesophageal cancer hot beverages squamous cell carcinoma thermal damage Oxford University study

A large-scale study by the University of Oxford, published in the International Journal of Cancer, has linked the consumption of very hot tea and coffee to an increased risk of oesophageal cancer. Analyzing data from nearly one million adults via the UK Biobank and the Million Women Study over a period of 11 to 14 years, researchers found that individuals who consume beverages classified as ‘very hot’ face approximately three times the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma compared to those who drink warm beverages.

The research suggests that the risk is driven by thermal damage to the oesophageal lining caused by extreme temperatures rather than the chemical components of the drinks themselves. No significant link was found between beverage temperature and adenocarcinoma, which accounts for a larger portion of oesophageal cancer cases. Additionally, consuming six or more hot drinks per day was associated with a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma.

Medical experts and organizations like Cancer Research UK advise allowing hot drinks to cool to a comfortable temperature before consumption. While the relative risk increase is significant, experts noted that the absolute risk remains low, and other factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and chronic reflux are more dominant risk factors for oesophageal cancer.

Entities

Cancer Research UK · Dr. Keren Papier · International Agency for Research on Cancer · International Journal of Cancer · Keren Papier · Million Women Study · UK Biobank · University of Oxford · World Health Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Individuals who prefer very hot beverages have a 3.17-fold higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus compared to those who drink warm beverages. www.nrz.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de · www.morgenpost.de
[● 4 SOURCES] No link was found between beverage temperature and adenocarcinoma, the second major form of esophageal cancer. www.nrz.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de · www.morgenpost.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Consuming very hot beverages is linked to an increased risk of esophageal cancer. www.nrz.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de · www.morgenpost.de
[● 4 SOURCES] University of Oxford scientists conducted a large-scale study on the health data of 977,282 adults regarding beverage temperature. www.nrz.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de · www.morgenpost.de
[● 4 SOURCES] In 2016, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified beverages with temperatures exceeding 65 degrees Celsius as probably carcinogenic to humans. www.nrz.de · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de · www.morgenpost.de