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Betel-nut chewing raises metabolic syndrome risk

Chewing betel nuts could cause not only cancer but also metabolic syndrome, a local research project concluded yesterday.

The report follows the announcement last week by the National Health Research Institute that betel-nut chewing could give rise to several types of cancer.

According to the new research study, the risk of suffering from metabolic syndrome increases by 90 percent, which in turn increases the risks for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, if a person is a habitual betel-nut chewer.

The project suggested that the excessive absorption of alkali in betel nuts is the trigger for the diseases.

The study was jointly conducted by Pingtung Christian Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, National Taiwan University Hospital and Jen Chi Hospital. Its paper has already been accepted by Diabetes Care -- a publication of the American Diabetes Association.

Chewing betel nuts could cause "abdominal obesity" -- one of the causes of metabolic syndrome, said Tai Tong-yuan (戴東原), a professor of internal medicine at National Taiwan University Hospital.

The project, led by Pingtung Christian Hospital, was conducted among 1,466 Aboriginal residents in southern Taiwan.
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