Drinking hot tea linked with risk of 1 type of oesophageal cancer
nhs.uk
nhs.uk
> The cancer is very rare. Even in this high-risk population, where drinking very hot tea is extremely common, only 0.6% developed oesophageal cancer.
> Even though hot tea drinking could raise risk, the absolute risk increase would be from less than 1% to 1.2%.
> This may well be far smaller than the risk conferred from more established risk factors, such as alcohol, smoking, diet and obesity.
> The researchers have tried to account for these and other lifestyle factors that may be associated with hot tea drinking and so influencing any link.
> But as with all observational studies, it's difficult to ensure their influence is fully ruled out.
As for the present prospective cohort survey https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijc.32220, I'm surprised the actual tea (processing method/brand) was not listed as a confounding factor. They mention PAHs but to the extent of their generic use of the term 'tea' throughout the Discussion section makes me question the utility:
"However, tea also contains several other compounds with unknown effects, and some potentially carcinogenic compounds may be introduced to tea when being processed (such as possible contamination of black tea with PAHs)"
Also the study indicates it the "hot" thats at issue not the "Tea" so Im calling bullshit on this headline.
Actually, it's the opposite.
From the article, "Some studies have suggested that only people who drink alcohol or smoke are at risk of cancer from drinking hot tea. This study suggests that is not the case."
The conclusion section of the article addresses some of the questions raised here. I would say the conclusion was a refreshingly well written summary of what the results mean and some outstanding questions.