Chewing Arecanut Causes Cancer? What Centre Said
The Indian government has addressed concerns regarding the classification of arecanut as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO), clarifying its stance in response to a query raised in Parliament. Lok Sabha MP Rajmohan Unnithan sought clarification on the health risks associated with arecanut, an essential crop deeply embedded in India’s cultural, social, and religious traditions.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, confirmed the significance of arecanut in Indian customs. Traditionally used with betel leaves or as a standalone masticatory ingredient, arecanut is often consumed as “thambula” after meals. It also finds applications in Ayurvedic and veterinary medicine due to its alkaloid properties.
The government acknowledged challenges faced by arecanut farmers due to WHO’s classification, which cites studies linking arecanut consumption to cancer. However, officials pointed out methodological limitations in these studies. Many focused on chewing mixtures like betel quid and gutka, which include other harmful substances, rather than the isolated effects of arecanut.
A review conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute in November 2023 highlighted that the concentrations of arecoline—an alkaloid in arecanut—used in these studies were significantly higher than those released during regular chewing. Interestingly, some research indicates that low doses of arecoline may inhibit tumour growth.
“The Government is aware of the challenges faced by arecanut farmers. It’s noticed that certain research papers on the health effects of arecanut, which are quoted by WHO, have methodological limitations, leading to inconclusive reports. Notably, most of these studies focused on the health impacts of chewing mixtures, such as betel quid and gutka, which contain arecanut along with other ingredients. These studies have not indicated the sole & specific effects of consumption of arecanut isolate on human health. A systematic review of the available literature was conducted by multi institutional stakeholders at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod in November 2023. This review revealed that the arecoline (alkaloid in arecanut) dosage used in these experiments was of a higher concentration compared to that released during normal chewing. Some studies have also revealed that arecoline, in lesser doses, has been found to inhibit tumour growth,” the minister said.
To bridge the knowledge gap, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has announced a detailed study titled “Evidence-Based Research on Arecanut and Human Health.” This initiative involves 16 national and state-level agencies, including AIIMS, IISc, and CSIR-CCMB, to explore arecanut’s health impacts comprehensively.
The findings from this multi-institutional research are expected to provide conclusive evidence, potentially leading to a reassessment of arecanut’s classification by WHO. Meanwhile, the government reiterated its commitment to addressing farmers’ concerns and safeguarding the cultural heritage linked to arecanut.
