Kava Fact of the Day Kava investigated as a possible lung chemoprotectant in tobacco consumers (Pilot Study)

[The Kap'n]

In this study 21 smoking but otherwise healthy (normal blood counts, electrolytes, and liver function) individuals took part in a 7-day clinical trial. Individuals were screened for diseases or impairments prior to study. Alcohol dependent individuals and pregnant/breastfeeding women were excluded. This trial sought to measure levels of carcinogens (cancer causing substances) related to smoking tobacco products and their rate of elimination when combined with kava. This trial focuses on NNK specifically. NNK is a nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone. It’s what occurs in tobaccos that have been fire cured, and occurs during the physical burning process. NNK or 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone is an indisputable carcinogen. Once NNK is activated it initiates a cascade of signaling pathways, resulting in uncontrolled cellular proliferation and tumorigenesis (cancer)[1]. The primary objective of this study was to compare urinary totals of the metabolites of NNK before and after kava consumption. This would give the researchers an idea of how well kava helps in removing the NNK from the body. This study used Gaia Herbs kava caps at 3 capsules per day. Fasting except for water was required 1 hour prior to and after each dose. The participants in this study were not looking to quit smoking.

Kava was given to participants to measure the effect it had on cortisol (the stress hormone). Out of the 21 people, 15 showed reduced levels of plasma cortisol. In this part of the study they found kava resulted in a 59% reduction in urinary TCE (Total cortisol equivalent) in the zero to six-hour study period, indicating kava’s stress reliving abilities. Interestingly cortisol reduction was more pronounced in smokers with higher baseline cortisol levels.

The results of this study show that NNAL (a metabolite of NNK) significantly increased in the urine with kava exposure. The study shows the number doubled. This is good. You want NNK and its metabolites to be gone as quickly as possible. This may lead to mitigating some of the harmful effects of tobacco and reduce the satisfaction from smoking. The data generated by this pilot trial support pursuit of further preclinical and clinical studies to confirm kava’s benefits. In short, it’s excellent news, but not necessarily something I would consider a “cure” for lung cancer at this point. I do wish the study was longer than 7 days, as I believe more interesting results would have been discovered. Don’t smoke, but if you do, this study may lend some credence to kava’s chemoprotective properties. The figure below shows levels of NNAL and cortisone during the study.

1. Akopyan, Gohar; Bonavida, Benjamin (2006). "Understanding tobacco smoke carcinogen NNK and lung tumorigenesis". International Journal of Oncology. 29 (4): 745–52. doi:10.3892/ijo.29.4.745. PMID 16964372.
2. Wang Y, Narayanapillai SC, Tessier KM, Strayer LG, Upadhyaya P, Hu Q, Kingston R, Salloum RG, Lu J, Hecht SS, Hatsukami DK, Fujioka N, Xing C. The Impact of One-week Dietary Supplementation with Kava on Biomarkers of Tobacco Use and Nitrosamine-based Carcinogenesis Risk among Active Smokers. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2020 May;13(5):483-492. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-19-0501. Epub 2020 Feb 26. PMID: 32102948; PMCID: PMC7461349.

 

[Alia]

This fits in nicely with all the other kava-as-lung-cancer prevention studies done by same lead author since his time at UM now UF.

 

[Zaphod]

This fits in nicely with all the other kava-as-lung-cancer prevention studies done by same lead author since his time at UM now UF.

Pretty cool - I do wonder though how much overlap there is between traditional tobacco smokers and traditional kava drinkers at this point. In the US it has to be pretty low. While kava knowledge and availability grows in the US, most tried and true smokers are older and probably wouldn't try kava and most younger folks are vaping. Of course vaping has its own set of risks but definitely not the same as burning tobacco (plus all the additives).

 

[Alia]

Pretty cool - I do wonder though how much overlap there is between traditional tobacco smokers and traditional kava drinkers at this point. In the US it has to be pretty low. While kava knowledge and availability grows in the US, most tried and true smokers are older and probably wouldn't try kava and most younger folks are vaping. Of course vaping has its own set of risks but definitely not the same as burning tobacco (plus all the additives).

Here is a quote from Steiner's paper regarding low cancer rates amongst some kava drinkers--
BACKGROUND: A number of countries in the South Pacific have very low cancer incidence. In spite of a high percentage of the population habituated to tobacco, the cancer incidence in countries such as Vanuatu and Fiji experience age-standardized cancer incidence in the 70's. A number of studies have noted the low cancer incidence in these countries and have postulated that a dietary chemopreventive agent might be responsible. METHODS: The cancer incidence studies for the Pacific Islands were completed in the 1980's. During this time period accurate records allow for a calculation of local kava consumption. This study compares the cancer incidence for a number of Pacific Island Nations with local kava consumption. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The data indicates that the more kava consumed by a population the lower the cancer incidence for that population. The data suggests there is a close inverse relationship between cancer incidence and kava consumption.

 

[AlexisReal]

If kava works as a lung chemoprotector for tobacco smokers, the excellent take from that- it will provide the same benefit for everybody,, in a preventative manner.