Betel nut and smoking: are they both protective in ulcerative colitis? A pilot study

Two-hundred and twenty-three Asian patients with inflammatory bowel disease were sent a questionnaire about smoking and betel nut chewing habits. The 116 responses from patients with ulcerative colitis were compared with answers from 79 healthy members of the community. Twelve per cent of male patients were currently smokers compared with 31 per cent of healthy controls (X(2) = 20.9 P < O.05). No such differences existed between female patients and controls. Thirteen per cent of male patients regularly used betel nut compared with 20 per cent (X(2) = 3.9 P < O.05). Both smoking and betel nut chewing appear to reduce the risk of developing ulcerative colitis, although these effects may be linked.