Love hot tea or coffee? Study finds higher risk of oesophageal cancer

How hot do you like your tea or coffee? A new study from the University of Oxford, published in the International Journal of Cancer, suggests that drinking very hot beverages may be linked to a higher risk of a type of oesophageal (food-pipe) cancer called oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Researchers analysed health data from nearly one million adults in the UK and followed them for more than 10 years. Participants were asked to describe their usual hot drinks as “warm”, “hot”, or “very hot”. Compared with people who preferred warm drinks, those who drank hot beverages had nearly twice the risk of oesophageal SCC, while those who preferred very hot drinks had about three times the risk. Drinking six or more hot drinks a day was also linked to a 71 per cent higher risk.

Scientists believe that repeatedly drinking very hot liquids may irritate or damage the lining of the oesophagus. Over time, this could increase the risk of cancer.

While the exact temperature that may increase cancer risk is not known, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies beverages above 65°C as “probably carcinogenic”.

The best ways to lower your risk of oesophageal cancer are to avoid smoking and limit alcohol. If you enjoy tea or coffee, letting it cool slightly before drinking may also be a simple precaution.