Publication: Magnetic resonance imaging brain volumetry among adult malay male regular kratom leaves users
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Date
2022
Authors
Mohamad, Siti Dayana
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Abstract
Backgrounds: Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) or commonly known as kratom, is an indigenous plant commonly found in Southeast Asia with a long history of traditional use as herbal remedies for various ailments, usually consumed as painkillers and to combat fatigue. More recently, apart from the medicinal benefit, it has gained popularity for use as a recreational drug and as an opioid substitute. Despite the increasing usage across the globe, the potential side-effects of prolonged kratom use on brain morphometry, however, are currently unclear. Methods: Twenty-two regular adult kratom users and thirty non-kratom users who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prior research were included in this cross-sectional study. Manual tracing of brain volumetry for total intracranial volume (TIV or ICV), total brain volume (TBV), caudate nucleus, and putamen were performed for all the participants. The difference in means for TIV, TBV, caudate nucleus, and putamen between kratom and non-kratom users were determined using an independent statistical t-test. Results: The mean (SD) total intracranial volume and mean total brain volume (SD) among regular adult kratom leave users were 1502.28 (95.41) cm3 and 1388.63 (118.03) cm3, respectively. For kratom user subjects, the mean (SD) for the right, left, and total caudate nucleus volumes reported were 3.89 (0.48) cm3, 3.96 (0.49) cm3, and 7.86 (0.95) cm3, respectively. While for the right, left and total putamen volume, the mean (SD) reported were 4.31 (0.29) cm3, 4.37 (0.26) cm3 and 8.67 (0.52) cm3 respectively. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the mean total intracranial volume (TIV or ICV) and total brain volume (TBV) between kratom users and the controls. However, there was an increase in mean caudate nucleus and putamen volume (p<0.05) for kratom users relative to the controls. Conclusion: This study showed long-term consumption of kratom is associated with altered subcortical brain structures (caudate nucleus and putamen) in regular kratom users in traditional settings. However, further study is needed to establish more data on kratom use and its effects with regard to brain morphometry.
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Keywords
Mitragyna speciose , mitragynine