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The correlation between cancer incidence and kava consumption
Hawaii Medical Journal
|January 10, 2001
Summary
Kava consumption is linked to lower cancer incidence in Pacific Island nations. This study suggests an inverse relationship between kava intake and cancer rates, highlighting a potential dietary chemopreventive effect.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- South Pacific nations exhibit unusually low cancer incidence despite high tobacco use.
- Previous research suggests a dietary chemopreventive agent may be responsible for low cancer rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between kava consumption and cancer incidence in Pacific Island populations.
- To explore the potential chemopreventive properties of kava.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cancer incidence data from Pacific Island nations collected in the 1980s.
- Correlated cancer incidence rates with available records of local kava consumption during the same period.
Main Results:
- A clear inverse relationship was observed between kava consumption and cancer incidence.
- Higher kava consumption in a population correlated with lower age-standardized cancer incidence.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest kava may possess chemopreventive properties.
- Increased kava intake is associated with reduced cancer incidence in the studied populations.