Kava drinking in traditional settings: Towards understanding effects on cognitive function

Abstract

Background Kava drinking is a tradition among Pacific Island people, although growing in popularity with other ethnicities. However, drinking substantial quantities of kava has raised concerns regarding physical manifestations of slow response and lack of precision in bodily control. These impairments can have significant consequences when after consuming large volumes of kava an individual makes a choice to drive. Aims The objective of this study was to measure selected cognitive functions following high traditionally consumed kava volumes (greater than 2,000 mg of kavalactones) aimed at identifying potential risks for kava drink‐drivers. Methods The reaction and divided attention of 20 control participants was assessed against 20 active kava‐drinking participants during and following a 6‐hr kava session in a “naturalised” setting. Assessment measures were drawn from Vienna Test System—Traffic's test battery. Results/Outcomes Results showed no statistical significant difference between control and active participants at any measurement point over a 6‐hr testing period regardless that the movements and speech of the active participants were observed to slow as the test session and kava consumption progressed. Conclusion Inconsistencies between test results and observations during testing and by road policing officers demonstrate an urgent need for more research in this field.

Kava as a Clinical Nutrient: Promises and Challenges

“…Typically, the dried root is ground into a powder, which is then mixed with ambient temperature water or coconut milk, and filtered through a cloth into a suspension ( Figure 1 b) [ 13 , 14 ]. The estimated doses of traditional kava use ( Table 1 ) vary substantially across various regions, ranging from 750 to 8000 mg kavalactones/day [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Traditional kava use has been ubiquitously accepted to be safe in these regions, aligned with the recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2016 report [ 15 ].…”

“…Kava bars later expanded to Hawaii and have sprung up on islands in the Pacific and in some Western nations in recent years [ 29 ]. In the United States, for example, the number of kava bars increased by approximately 30% from 2012 to 2017 [ 16 , 30 , 31 ].…”

“…The amount of kavalactone intake among traditional kava users is typically >750 mg/day [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ], significantly higher than its anxiolytic and dietary supplement dose. In the context of the hepatotoxic risk associated with kava, Lee commented that “the Pohnpean dose is 8 times the recommended daily dose.…”

Na yaqona kei na ivakatakilakila vakavanua ena yatu Pasivika

“…Ena vanua ko Vanuatu kei na veivanua eso ena muaira ni pasivika kara dau vakayagataka talega na yaqona, na waidroka e vusoi vata kaya e dau lailai sara ka dau sosoko na medra wai ni yaqona, me vakatauvatani kei na veivanua tale eso ena Pasivika, me tekivu mai Viti ka mua vaka kina tokalau kei Viti (Toga vata kei Samoa) (Aporosa, 2014). Na wainimate e tiko ena yaqona ka vakatokai me kava lakatoni (kavalactones), e vakamocera na uwa ni yagoda ka laki vakavuna talega na nunu ni qavokavoka, tebe ni gusu kei na veimasela e vuqa, ka laki vakavuna sara e dua na ituvaki vakaciriloloma kei na dakoba ni vakasama (Aporosa, 2011(Aporosa, , 2017(Aporosa, , 2019aAporosa et al, 2020). Ia, e dua na tikina bibi me nanumi tiko ni revurevu ni gunu yaqona e sega ni vaka na revurevu ni yaqona ni Vavalagi se wai gaga ni veivakamatenitaki; ka oka kina na marau vakasauri se vosavosa e yalona, ia na mateni ena yaqona ni Viti e vakavuna me savasava tuga na vakasama ka dau vakavurea na veitalanoa bibi vata kei na vakatulewa bibi (Aporosa kei Tomlinson, 2014;Aporosa, 2019b).…”

Biological Activity, Hepatotoxicity, and Structure-Activity Relationship of Kavalactones and Flavokavins, the Two Main Bioactive Components in Kava (Piper methysticum)

“…Piper methysticum Forst, popularly known as kava, is an edible and medicinal plant of shrub which has history of more than 2000 years. Given the purposes for religious occasions, medicinal purposes, and social gatherings [1][2][3], kava is particularly important for the indigenous people of the Pacific Rim and the Hawaiian Islands [4]. In the daily life of the South Pacific island people, the water infusion of kava root was used as a traditional beverage since ancient times for its sedative and calming effects, such as soothing the nerves, inducing relaxation and sleep, counteracting fatigue, and reducing weight [5,6], and the dietary supplements of kava were easily obtained in some health food stores [7].…”