Kava & NCDs: Consumption patterns of
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Transcript of Kava & NCDs: Consumption patterns of
Kava & NCDs: Consumption patterns of
kava in the Pacific
Pacific Research Centre for Obesity and NCD Prevention
C. Latu
Kava in the Pacific region
• Used at traditional social gatherings
• Dried roots grounded and mixed with water
• Not extracted with any solvent, dosage not
strictly measured
• Majority of Pacific Is use kava in traditional
ceremonies and social gatherings
Contemporary status of Kava
• “most copiously drunk
social beverage” (Tomlinson 2007)
• Less restrictions with
increased participation
from females.
• Kava bars, nakamals
Contemporary status of Kava
Health effects of Kava
Immediate effects
• Numbness tongue
• Reduces fatigue
• Allays anxiety/stress
• Reduction in muscle
tension, restlessness
(Singh, 2004)
Prolonged use
• ‘Kava dermatitis’
• Weight loss in heavy
users
• Raised liver enzymes
• Nausea, indigestion
• Sore, red eyes
• Slow/lazy days following
use
(Rychetnik & Madronio 2011)
KAVA and NCD risk?
• ‘Chasers’
– Mango skin/Chinese
lollies
– Soft drinks
– Mixed beans
– Bongo/twisties
– Sweets
• ‘Wash-down’
– Alcohol afterwards
• Smoking
WHO STEPS survey
Country STEPS
Survey
Prevalence of kava
consumption
Kiribati 2009 43.7% M: 4.6% F
Vanuatu 2013 68.1% M: 18.3% F
Fiji 2011 78.7% M: 38.8% F
FSM (Pohnpei) 2009 78.7% M: 58.9% F
• Kava consumption reported.
Kava and NCD risks
• Fiji STEPS 2002
– 47% overall smoke during or after a kava session
– 20.2% drinking alcohol during or after kava session
(more prevalent in younger male groups)
– High proportion reported eating candies (lollies)
– High proportion reported having ‘cooked food’ at the
end of sessions.
• Vanuatu STEPS 2013
– 63.7% (M) and 17.9% (F) smoke while drinking kava
Kava and NCD risks
• Descriptive study on Tongans in Macarthur, Sydney during kava sessions;– Smoking 26%
– Alcohol consumption 15%
– 73% drank cola to take away bitter taste
– Food with high fat/sugar content consumed 60%
• Indigenous Australians– 3.4% had experimented with kava (>15 years old)
– Arnhem Land region 47% M: 18% F current kava users
Summary
• No adverse health effects for water based kava
• Health effects are reversible
• Reports of increased NCD risk factor behavior
with kava consumption
• Not enough evidence currently
What next?
• Still not enough evidence of kava consumption patterns in the Pacific– Limitations on STEPS
– Evidence from other Pacific countries
• Fiji NCD strategic plan
– “extent of kava use and associated behavioral patterns warrants further research”
• Vanuatu
– “review the effect of kava consumption and its impact on health, social and economic wellbeing of individuals/family”
