University of Oxford Study Links Hot Beverage Consumption to Esophageal Cancer
Regular consumption of very hot tea or coffee is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, as indicated by a comprehensive study from the University of Oxford. Individuals who consumed beverages described as ‘very hot’ faced approximately three times the risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), compared to those who preferred warm beverages.
The study detailed that drinking six or more hot beverages daily correlated with a 71% higher risk. Notably, this link did not extend to esophageal adenocarcinoma, a cancer type affecting the esophagus’s lower region.
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Lead study author Keren Papier, a nutritional epidemiologist, emphasized the study’s scale, involving nearly one million U.K. adults, making it unprecedented. Participants from the Million Women Study were followed for 14 years on average, while those from the UK Biobank were tracked for 11 years.
Compared to participants who drank ‘warm’ beverages, those consuming ‘hot’ drinks had a 1.7 times increased risk of SCC, while ‘very hot’ beverage drinkers faced a threefold risk. These findings were published in the International Journal of Cancer.
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Potential Prevention and Study Limitations
The researchers speculate that, if the observed associations are causative, approximately 14% of SCC cases could be prevented by opting for hot rather than very hot beverages. However, the study’s limitations include self-reported beverage temperatures, which introduce variability due to differing heat tolerances among participants.
Dr. Aaron Sasson, a specialist in surgical oncology, supported the plausibility of the findings, noting that hot liquids could irritate the esophagus, potentially leading to cancer development akin to thermal injuries.
Though the study focused on squamous carcinomas, Sasson highlighted that adenocarcinomas constitute around 85% of U.S. esophageal cancers, with squamous cases being relatively rare.
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Practical Considerations and Known Risk Factors
Dr. Sasson advised that while heavy consumers of hot drinks might consider cooling them down, it is not the leading risk factor for SCC development. Established risks for esophageal cancer include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, acid reflux, and obesity.
Reducing alcohol intake and quitting smoking significantly benefit esophageal health.
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Melissa Rudy is senior health editor at Fox News Digital. Feel free to send story tips to [email protected].
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