Drinking piping hot tea or coffee can significantly increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer, a study claims.
Previous studies have revealed a link between hot teadrinking and risk of oesophageal cancer, but until now, no study has examinedthis association using prospectively and objectively measured tea drinkingtemperature.
The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer,achieved this by following 50,045 individuals aged 40 to 75 years for a medianof 10 years.
“Many people enjoy drinking tea, coffee, or other hotbeverages. However, according to our report, drinking very hot tea can increasethe risk of esophageal cancer, and it is therefore advisable to wait until hotbeverages cool down before drinking,” said lead author Farhad Islami, ofthe American Cancer Society.
During follow-up, 317 new cases of oesophageal cancer wereidentified. Compared with drinking less than 700 ml of tea per day at less than60 degrees Celsisu, drinking 700 ml per day or more at a higher temperature wasassociated with a 90 per cent higher risk of esophageal cancer.