Research links repeated thermal injury to oesophageal disease
RECENTLY I saw an article that explored the relationship between drinking hot beverages and cancer and received a number of questions around it. In today’s article I would like to share more on how this relationship was established and what the public can do to prevent this occurrence.
As you may all agree, drinking tea, coffee, and other hot beverages is a common daily habit in many cultures. Although these beverages themselves are not generally considered direct causes of cancer, research has raised concerns about the regular consumption of beverages at very high temperatures, particularly in relation to cancer of the oesophagus. The potential relationship appears to be related more to the temperature at which the beverage is consumed than to the specific type of beverage.
The oesophagus is lined with delicate cells that can be injured by exposure to extremely hot liquids. Regularly drinking beverages at very high temperatures may cause repeated thermal injury and inflammation of the oesophageal lining. Over many years, repeated injury may contribute to cellular damage and changes that could play a role in the development of cancer. However, this does not mean that occasionally drinking a hot cup of tea or coffee will cause cancer. The concern is mainly associated with the frequent and long-term consumption of extremely hot beverages.
Research has found an association between drinking very hot beverages and an increased risk of oesophageal cancer. The World Health Organisation, has classified drinking beverages at temperatures above 65°C (149°F) as “probably carcinogenic to humans”. This classification is based on evidence linking the consumption of very hot beverages with an increased risk of esophageel cancer. It does not mean that all hot beverages cause cancer or that beverages consumed at ordinary warm temperatures are carcinogenic.
The possible explanation for this relationship is that very hot liquids can repeatedly damage the cells lining the oesophagus. Unlike the stomach, the oesophagus is not designed to tolerate repeated exposure to extremely hot substances. When very hot liquids pass through the oesophagus, they can cause thermal injury and irritation. Repeated injury and inflammation over a long period may contribute to changes in cells, potentially increasing the likelihood of abnormal cell growth. However, the exact biological mechanisms involved are still being studied.
It is also important to distinguish between the temperature of a beverage and the beverage itself. Tea and coffee contain many different chemical compounds, and research into their effects on health is complex. Therefore, it would be misleading to conclude that drinking tea or coffee automatically increases the risk of cancer. Current evidence suggests that the greater concern is the consumption of these beverages at extremely high temperatures. Allowing tea, coffee or other beverages to cool before drinking them may therefore be a simple way of reducing potential risk.
The risk of oesophageal cancer is influenced by many factors, and drinking very hot beverages is only one possible contributor. Tobacco use and heavy alcohol consumption are well established risk factors, while chronic acid reflux, obesity, certain dietary patterns, and other environmental and genetic factors can also contribute. The combination of several risk factors may further increase an individual’s overall risk.
In conclusion, evidence suggests that regularly consuming beverages at extremely high temperatures may increase the risk of esophageal cancer. The concern appears to be related primarily to repeated thermal injury to the esophageal lining rather than to tea, coffee, or other beverages themselves. People do not necessarily need to stop drinking these beverages. I would like to stress that allowing your tea or coffee to cool to a comfortable temperature before consumption is a simple precaution to preventing cancer. Alongside this, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, managing persistent acid reflux, and seeking medical attention for symptoms such as difficulty swallowing can help reduce the risk and support early detection of oesophageal disease.
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