Link Between Cancer And Common Asian Nut

Study Confirms Link Between Cancer And Common Asian Nut - from NewsRx.com

November 4, 2004

Over the past couple of decades, scientists have been perplexed by a substantial rise in the incidence of head and neck cancers among Taiwanese men. According to cancer statistics, the disease increased by 85% among men there from 1981-2000.

A new study, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Third Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, now suggests that the increased incidence may be linked to increased domestic production of a popular legal stimulant in Asia called betel quid.

Chewing betel quid, traditionally practiced in many parts of Asia and in Asian immigrants around the world, can be likened to tobacco use in the U.S. It is often rolled like a cigar or intricately folded and generally consists of a betel palm leaf spread with lime paste (calcium hydroxide) wrapped around a slice of areca nut. Betel quid is chewed for many reasons, including for its stimulant effects, to satisfy hunger, to sweeten the breath, and as a social or cultural practice.

However, betel quid also is considered a nuisance in Asia where the reddish juice, generated by the act of chewing betel quid, can be found all over the ground and on public buildings. Also considered a major public health risk, it is believed to be a leading cause of oral cancer in this part of the world.