Betel nut

Betel nut/Nutrient Depletion:

  • GlucoseGlucose: The arecoline fraction from betel nuts has been found to reduce blood sugar in diabetic rabbits (41). Systematic study in humans is lacking.
  • LipidsLipids: Betel nut extracts lowered concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides significantly in rats fed a diet containing cholesteryl oleate (121). Systematic study in humans is lacking.
  • Thiamine (vitamin B1)Thiamine (vitamin B1): Betel has been reported to possess anti-thiamine effects (52), and theoretically may precipitate neurologic damage including Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke's encephalopathy is characterized by confusion, ataxia, nystagmus, and ophthalmoplegia (weakness of the lateral rectus muscle and conjugate gaze palsies), while Korsakoff's psychosis involves confusion and amnesia.
  • Vitamin DVitamin D: Based on human study, chewing betel nut may aggravate the effects of vitamin D deficiency (110).