Manganese Exposure from Betel Quid Chewing in Bangladesh
Author Information
Author(s): Al-Rmalli Shaban W, Jenkins Richard O, Haris Parvez I
Primary Institution: De Montfort University
Hypothesis
Is betel quid chewing a significant source of manganese exposure in a Bangladeshi population?
Conclusion
Betel quid chewing is a significant source of manganese exposure, leading to higher urinary manganese levels in chewers compared to non-chewers.
Supporting Evidence
- Betel quid chewers had a mean urinary manganese concentration of 1.93 μg L-1.
- Non-chewers had a mean urinary manganese concentration of 0.62 μg L-1.
- The daily intake of manganese from betel quid was estimated to be 20.3 mg/day.
Takeaway
Chewing betel quid can make people in Bangladesh get too much manganese, which might be bad for their brains.
Methodology
Urinary manganese levels were measured in 15 betel quid chewers and 22 non-chewers using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data on betel quid consumption.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and was conducted only with UK Bangladeshi participants, not those in Bangladesh.
Participant Demographics
Participants were ethnic Bangladeshis living in the UK, aged 28-71, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.5:1.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.009
Statistical Significance
p=0.009
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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