A recent study has found that consuming very hot beverages may increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer, prompting experts to advise allowing hot drinks to cool before drinking. The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Oxford, involved data from approximately 980,000 adults and examined the relationship between beverage temperature and cancer risk in a UK population.
The findings indicate that individuals who regularly drink hot beverages have about a 1.7 times higher risk of oesophageal cancer compared to those who consume warm drinks. This risk increases to nearly three times for those who drink beverages while they are still very hot. Additionally, consuming six or more hot drinks per day was associated with an elevated overall risk.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies drinking beverages hotter than 65 degrees Celsius (149 degrees Fahrenheit) as “probably carcinogenic.” Researchers noted that the typical temperature at which tea and coffee are consumed in Western countries is around 60 degrees Celsius, just below this threshold.
Experts suggest that the mechanism behind this increased risk may involve damage to the cells lining the oesophagus caused by very hot liquids, potentially leading to cancerous changes over time. Dr. Keren Papier, the study’s lead researcher, emphasized the significance of the findings, describing it as the largest study to date examining the link between hot drink consumption and oesophageal cancer in the UK.
“International research has shown for some time that drinking beverages at very high temperatures is linked to increased risk of certain oesophageal cancers,” Dr. Papier said. “This study adds further evidence that drinking very hot drinks could increase the risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.”
Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, highlighted the practical implications of the study, noting that while the overall risk of oesophageal cancer remains relatively low in the UK, there is a straightforward way for people to reduce their risk. “Letting a cuppa cool down a little before taking a sip can help,” she said.
The research underscores ongoing public health concerns relating to lifestyle factors and cancer risk and provides further guidance on safer consumption practices for common hot beverages such as tea and coffee.