Love boiling hot coffee? Study finds 3 times higher risk of esophageal cancer

A large study in the UK, led by the University of Oxford, found a link between drinking very hot beverages and a nearly threefold increased risk of a specific type of esophageal cancer (SCC). The study, which included nearly one million people, also found that drinking six or more hot cups a day increases the risk by 71%. Researchers recommend letting drinks cool before consumption.

A large study in the UK, led by researchers from the University of Oxford, found a link between drinking very hot beverages and a nearly threefold increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCC). The study was based on data from approximately 980,000 people from two major studies – UK Biobank and the Million Women Study. Participants reported their preference for drinking hot beverages: "very hot," "hot," or "warm." The results showed that those who preferred "hot" beverages had about a 70% higher risk of developing SCC compared to those who preferred them warm. Among those who drank them "very hot," the risk was about three times higher. Additionally, consuming six or more hot cups per day was associated with a 71% increase in risk. The researchers found no clear link between beverage temperature and adenocarcinoma, the other main type of esophageal cancer. Lead researcher Dr. Keren Papier said the findings add to existing evidence that drinking very hot beverages may increase risk. However, she emphasized that further research is needed to identify precise drinking temperatures. The possible explanation is that very hot liquid may cause repeated thermal damage to esophageal cells. The warning is not new: as early as 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified drinking beverages at temperatures above 65°C as "probably carcinogenic to humans." However, the researchers urge perspective: the absolute risk of developing SCC in the UK is about 1%, and smoking and alcohol consumption remain more significant risk factors.