An evolutionary perspective on the use of betel nut and its effects on health outcomes
Betel quid use was inversely associated with inflammation and, among men, positively associated with anemia and inversely associated with diabetes and hypertension. Together, these findings suggest that the use of betel quid, and possibly other addictive substances, may have been a behavioral adaptation to diverse socioecological challenges.
Authors
- Kristin K. Sznajder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9680-4497)
- Mary K. Shenk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2002-1469)
- Katherine Wander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4913-5075)
- Siobhán M. Mattison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9537-5459)
- Nurul Alam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1202-4451)
- Rubhana Raqib (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8116-4511)
- Farjana Haque (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8297-2652)
- Tami Blumenfield (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5833-0123)
- Laura Perez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3928-6360)
- Anjan Kumar
Institutions
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Binghamton University (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- University of New Mexico (US)
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (BD)
- Department of Public Health (MM)
- Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College (BD)
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Evolution Medicine and Public Health
- Published
- 2025-12-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoaf037
- Primary Topic
- Oral Health Pathology and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00