Boucher B J, Mannan N
Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Medicine, Medical and Dental School, Queen Mary, University of London, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK.
Addict Biol. 2002 Jan;7(1):103-10. doi: 10.1080/13556210120091464.
Betel nut (Areca catechu) is chewed regularly by at least 10% of the world population, imported by immigrant users wherever they settle, and is the fourth most widely used addictive substance. It is thought, by users, to soothe the digestion and to be a stimulant and its use has a major role in social situations. Specific arecal alkaloids act as competitive inhibitors of GABA receptors and have widespread effects in the body, including actions on the brain, cardiovascular system, lungs, gut and pancreas. Nitrosated derivatives of arecal alkaloids, proven carcinogens inducing tumours throughout the upper gut and foregut derivatives in animals, are also associated with increased tumour risks in man. These nitrosated compounds are also diabetogenic in CD1 mice, producing a type 2 diabetes with obesity. Increased central obesity is found in association with betel usage in man as well as increases in circulating markers of inflammatory and cardiovascular damage. The effects of chronic betel usage in man are at least as diverse as those of smoking and the habit increases the risks of ill health.
槟榔（Areca catechu）有至少10%的世界人口经常咀嚼，移民使用者无论定居何处都会进口槟榔，它是第四大广泛使用的成瘾物质。使用者认为槟榔能促进消化且具有刺激性，其在社交场合中发挥着重要作用。特定的槟榔生物碱可作为GABA受体的竞争性抑制剂，在体内具有广泛影响，包括对大脑、心血管系统、肺、肠道和胰腺的作用。槟榔生物碱的亚硝基化衍生物是已证实的致癌物，可在动物体内诱发整个上消化道和前肠衍生物的肿瘤，在人类中也与肿瘤风险增加有关。这些亚硝基化化合物在CD1小鼠中也具有致糖尿病作用，会引发伴有肥胖的2型糖尿病。在人类中，发现腹部肥胖增加与槟榔使用有关，同时炎症和心血管损伤的循环标志物也会增加。长期食用槟榔对人类的影响至少与吸烟一样多样，且这种习惯会增加健康不良的风险。
