The original text of the report of the World Health Organization (WHO) is:
Around 600 million people are estimated to chew betel
quid in India and southeast Asia (prevalence of up to 80% in parts of India).
Betel quid generally consists of areca nut, betel leaf, catechu, slaked lime,
and often tobacco. Carcinogenic nitro samines derived from the areca nut, the
primary ingredient in betel quid, are formed in the saliva of chewers. Areca
nut induces oral preneoplastic disorders with a high propensity to progress to
cancer. The Group 1 classification of betel quid with or without added
tobacco, and of areca nut, was reaffirmed. There is now suffi cient evidence
that betel quid without added tobacco causes oesophageal cancer, and limited
evidence for liver cancer.
According to statistics, about 600 million people in India and Southeast Asia are chewing betel nut, betel nut, catechu, hydrated lime and tobacco leaves (the prevalence rate in some areas of India is nearly 80%). Carcinogenic nitrosamines, the main component of betel nut leaves, can be obtained, which are formed in chewing saliva. Areca nut causes oral disorder before the onset of tumor. As a strong addiction, it promotes the onset of cancer. In the classification of the first group, betel nut and betel nut with and without tobacco were confirmed again (as carcinogens). At present, there is enough evidence to prove that the chewing gum without tobacco can cause oral cancer, and limited evidence also proves that it can cause liver cancer.
The fact that tobacco contains nitrosamines is well known to all, and geranium is the name of a spice plant. When eating fresh betel nut, leaves, geranium vines and geranium flowers can be used. Modern tests have proved that geranium tablets do not contain nitrosamines.
The betel nut in Hunan, China is different from the betel nut described in WHO. It only chews the betel nut shell, and never chews it with any ingredients of tobacco or betel leaves. Even the alkali lime will react with maltose to form sugar calcium before it is used as the special brine for betel nut. Therefore, it is untenable to use WHO's statement to talk about the betel nut in Hunan, which is also confirmed by the epidemiological investigation report of people eating betel nut in many places in Hunan-the local cancer cases are no worse than others in China.
During the ten years from 2003 to 20 13, people speculated that betel nut caused cancer almost every year, but strangely, it subsided again and again every year. Is the fundamental reason behind it really good for consumers? No, it's because at least two chewing food interest groups are fighting for profits, and the result is the same year after year. This year is no exception, and there may be more fighting for profits next year! This kind of interest is a kind of permanence, until all the truth comes out.
National Health Commission: Long-term chewing betel nut is harmful. Experts say it has cancer risk.
20 19-03-02? 09:47 Xinhua News Agency comments
According to Xinhua News Agency, when the list of carcinogens was published in china food and drug administration in 20 17, betel nut was listed as a first-class carcinogen. Liu Hongwei, a professor of oral mucosa at Peking University Stomatological Hospital and deputy secretary general of the Chinese Stomatological Association, said that people in some southern provinces of China have the habit of chewing betel nuts, which led to an increase in the incidence of oral cancer. In the early stage, arecoline gradually leads to oral mucosal fibrosis. Patients will have symptoms such as limited mouth opening, limited tongue movement, loss of mucosal elasticity and ulceration, as well as pain and food intake. This is a precancerous lesion before oral cancer occurs. And betel nut is highly addictive and can be transformed into oral cancer after a long time.