Betel Quid Addiction: Blessing or curse, A study of North East Population of India

Introduction: Oral cancer is most common cancer in males and third most common in females, one of the main causative agent being use of chewing betel quid (BQ). Areca nut ( Areca catechu ), a major component of BQ, contains certain alkaloids that give rise to nitrosamines. CYP2A6 genetic polymorphism were studied among the Eastern and North eastern indian population . Methods : In this present study subjects were screened from Department of E.N.T. & Oral and Maxillofacial surgery of RKMSP hospital, Kolkata and different areas of Eastern and North Eastern states of India.  Polymorphism of CYP2A6 gene was studied from EDTA blood . Results : Some of the cases had more than one addiction. It has been found that most of the subjects had betel quid chewing habit. Early metabolizer are susceptible to oral cancer where as in case of poor metabolizers chances are less. Conclusion: Betel quid has an immense role in changing the oral pathology and developing oral cancer.