A Positive Relationship between Betel Nut Chewing and Significant Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD Subjects, but Not in Non-NAFLD Ones
Background: Betel nut chewing is associated with oral cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to explore the association of betel nut chewing with liver fibrosis in subjects with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/3/914 |
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| author | Yu-Tsung Chou Chung-Hao Li Zih-Jie Sun Wei-Chen Shen Yi-Ching Yang Feng-Hwa Lu Chih-Jen Chang Jin-Shang Wu |
| author_facet | Yu-Tsung Chou Chung-Hao Li Zih-Jie Sun Wei-Chen Shen Yi-Ching Yang Feng-Hwa Lu Chih-Jen Chang Jin-Shang Wu |
| author_sort | Yu-Tsung Chou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Betel nut chewing is associated with oral cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to explore the association of betel nut chewing with liver fibrosis in subjects with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Method: A total of 5967 subjects were enrolled. NAFLD was diagnosed with ultrasonography. Betel nut chewing was classified into non-chewing, ex-chewing, and current chewing, and cumulative dosages were calculated. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/platelet ratio index and NAFLD fibrosis scores (NFS) were calculated for evaluation of liver fibrosis. Results: NAFLD increased the associated risk of liver fibrosis in those with (odds ratio (OR): 5.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.09–9.80) and without betel nut chewing (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.64–3.29). In subjects without NAFLD, betel nut chewing was not associated with liver fibrosis (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.44–2.86). In subjects with NAFLD, cumulative betel nut chewing and ex- and current chewing were positively associated with NFS and significant liver fibrosis. Conclusions: In subjects with NAFLD, betel nut chewing, even ex-chewing, was associated with a higher risk of liver fibrosis, where higher cumulative levels were found to increase the risk of significant liver fibrosis. However, the associated risk of liver fibrosis due to betel nut chewing was insignificant in subjects without NAFLD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:19:16Z |
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| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:19:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
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| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-62bdfcb004ef403db3855f3eb571dd2a2023-11-21T10:08:38ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-03-0113391410.3390/nu13030914A Positive Relationship between Betel Nut Chewing and Significant Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD Subjects, but Not in Non-NAFLD OnesYu-Tsung Chou0Chung-Hao Li1Zih-Jie Sun2Wei-Chen Shen3Yi-Ching Yang4Feng-Hwa Lu5Chih-Jen Chang6Jin-Shang Wu7Department of Health Management Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, TaiwanDepartment of Health Management Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, TaiwanDepartment of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, TaiwanDepartment of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, TaiwanDepartment of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, TaiwanDepartment of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, TaiwanDepartment of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, TaiwanDepartment of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, TaiwanBackground: Betel nut chewing is associated with oral cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to explore the association of betel nut chewing with liver fibrosis in subjects with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Method: A total of 5967 subjects were enrolled. NAFLD was diagnosed with ultrasonography. Betel nut chewing was classified into non-chewing, ex-chewing, and current chewing, and cumulative dosages were calculated. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/platelet ratio index and NAFLD fibrosis scores (NFS) were calculated for evaluation of liver fibrosis. Results: NAFLD increased the associated risk of liver fibrosis in those with (odds ratio (OR): 5.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.09–9.80) and without betel nut chewing (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.64–3.29). In subjects without NAFLD, betel nut chewing was not associated with liver fibrosis (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.44–2.86). In subjects with NAFLD, cumulative betel nut chewing and ex- and current chewing were positively associated with NFS and significant liver fibrosis. Conclusions: In subjects with NAFLD, betel nut chewing, even ex-chewing, was associated with a higher risk of liver fibrosis, where higher cumulative levels were found to increase the risk of significant liver fibrosis. However, the associated risk of liver fibrosis due to betel nut chewing was insignificant in subjects without NAFLD.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/3/914betel nut<i>Areca catechu</i>NAFLDnonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseliver fibrosis |
| spellingShingle | Yu-Tsung Chou Chung-Hao Li Zih-Jie Sun Wei-Chen Shen Yi-Ching Yang Feng-Hwa Lu Chih-Jen Chang Jin-Shang Wu A Positive Relationship between Betel Nut Chewing and Significant Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD Subjects, but Not in Non-NAFLD Ones Nutrients betel nut <i>Areca catechu</i> NAFLD nonalcoholic fatty liver disease liver fibrosis |
| title | A Positive Relationship between Betel Nut Chewing and Significant Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD Subjects, but Not in Non-NAFLD Ones |
| title_full | A Positive Relationship between Betel Nut Chewing and Significant Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD Subjects, but Not in Non-NAFLD Ones |
| title_fullStr | A Positive Relationship between Betel Nut Chewing and Significant Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD Subjects, but Not in Non-NAFLD Ones |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Positive Relationship between Betel Nut Chewing and Significant Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD Subjects, but Not in Non-NAFLD Ones |
| title_short | A Positive Relationship between Betel Nut Chewing and Significant Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD Subjects, but Not in Non-NAFLD Ones |
| title_sort | positive relationship between betel nut chewing and significant liver fibrosis in nafld subjects but not in non nafld ones |
| topic | betel nut <i>Areca catechu</i> NAFLD nonalcoholic fatty liver disease liver fibrosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/3/914 |
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