Areca nut chewing is associated with metabolic syndrome: role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, leptin, and white blood cell count in betel nut chewing-related metabolic derangements.

Areca nut ( Areca catechu )/betel quid (BQ) is said to be the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world and is chewed regularly by at least 10% of the world’s population (1). High prevalences of BQ chewing were observed especially in South and Southeast Asia (1). High prevalences of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome were also observed in this area (2). Specific areca alkaloids act as competitive inhibitors of γ-aminobutyric acid receptors …