Khat Use and Health Implications

Khat (Catha edulis) is a plant chewed for its amphetamine-like stimulant effects in parts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Its principal active alkaloid, cathinone, produces euphoria, increased alertness and appetite suppression. Use is embedded in social and cultural practices yet carries a spectrum of health risks. Acute effects include tachycardia, hypertension and gastrointestinal discomfort. Chronic consumption has been linked to undernutrition, periodontal disease, gastritis, sleep disturbance and psychiatric symptoms ranging from anxiety to psychosis. Population studies in endemic regions reflect socioeconomic burdens through reduced work performance and healthcare pressures. As khat markets expand globally, understanding its toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic profiles is critical to informing public health interventions, regulatory approaches and harm-reduction strategies. Recent work has concentrated on mechanistic insights into mucosal inflammation, metabolic alterations in the central nervous system and nutritional status, underscoring the need for multidisciplinary responses that balance cultural sensitivity with evidence-based health promotion.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A community-based comparative study in Ethiopia examined undernutrition among male adults who chew khat versus non-chewers. Researchers measured body mass index to classify undernutrition (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) and applied multivariable logistic regression to control for dietary and sociodemographic factors. Findings revealed that khat chewing independently increased the odds of undernutrition, alongside factors such as religious affiliation and vegetable consumption patterns. The study emphasised that tailored nutritional interventions and improved access to fruit and vegetable supply chains could mitigate undernutrition in regions where khat use is prevalent.

Khat Use and Health Implications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in khat use and health implications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cathinone: A naturally occurring psychoactive alkaloid in khat leaves responsible for stimulant effects.

Body mass index (BMI): A measure of body fat based on weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres.

Glutamate transporter subtype I (GLT-1): A protein responsible for clearing glutamate from synaptic spaces, critical for neuronal signalling homeostasis.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8): A chemokine produced by epithelial and immune cells that recruits neutrophils during inflammation.

Psychostimulant: A substance that enhances central nervous system activity, increasing alertness and energy.

Undernutrition: A condition where dietary intake does not meet nutritional requirements, leading to weight loss and deficiencies.

References

1. Clavulanic Acid Improves Memory Dysfunction and Anxiety Behaviors through Upregulating Glutamatergic Transporters in the Nucleus Accumbens of Mice Repeatedly Exposed to Khat Extract. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
2. Fatalities Involving Khat in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, 2018 to 2021. Toxics (2023).
3. Catha edulis Leaves: Morphological Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Properties in an In Vitro Model of Gastritis. Plants (2024).
4. Determinants of undernutrition among khat chewing and non-khat chewing male adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports (2024).
5. Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary. Toxins (2022).