Very Hot Drinks Linked to Increased Esophageal Cancer Risk

Consuming beverages at very high temperatures significantly increases the risk of developing esophageal cancer, according to the largest study of its kind conducted in the UK. The research, which analyzed data from nearly one million adults, found that drinking very hot tea and coffee could triple the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a finding consistent with previous studies in other regions. The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer and involving experts from Oxford Population Health at the University of Oxford, examined data from the UK Biobank and the Million Women Study. Participants were monitored over 14 years to assess their drinking habits and health outcomes. Researchers found that individuals who reported drinking hot beverages at a very hot temperature faced approximately three times the risk of SCC compared to those who drank them warm. The frequency of consumption also played a role, with daily intake of six or more hot drinks linked to a 71% increase in SCC risk.