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Drinking very hot beverages appears to raise the
risk of esophageal cancer by as much as four
times.
- Researchers analyzed results from five studies
involving nearly 3,000 people.
- While several hot beverages were found to increase
the cancer risk, green tea was actually found to be protective.
In addition, regular
fruit consumption appeared to lower the risk of cancer by 63%,
the investigators found.
The investigators found a particularly strong association
with drinking mate, a tea served in parts of South America. Results show
that heavy mate drinking, and consuming mate when it is very hot, was
significantly associated with risk of esophageal cancer particularly among
heavy drinkers. The researchers think that the increased risk comes because
mate is usually consumed with a straw, which brings the very hot fluid
directly to the esophagus.
The new findings "adds evidence for a carcinogenic
effect of chronic thermal injury in the esophagus induced by the consumption
of very hot drinks," according to Dr. Xavier Castellsague from L'Hospitalet
de Llobregat in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues.
The authors note that despite their findings "tobacco
smoking and alcohol drinking remain by far the most important risk factors
for esophageal cancer in these populations, accounting for 90% of its
incidence."
International
Journal of Cancer November 15, 2000;88:658-664.
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