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Arsenicosis and Dietary Nutrient Intake Among Men and Women

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To determine the dietary intake of nutrients and its correlation with manifestations of arsenicosis and gender a cross-sectional study was conducted in India among two groups of participants, Group 1 (108 cases having skin lesions) and Group 2 (exposed controls, 100 cases not having skin lesions) with exposure to arsenic drawn from geographical areas known to have high level of arsenic in ground water (above permissible limit, i.e. >50 μg/L). For diet survey, combinations of two methods of diet study i.e. weighment of cooked food and the 24-h diet recall were followed. The nutrients in each food items and calorie consumption were calculated. The mean calorie intake of males was significantly less than that of females in both cases and controls. In both the sexes, mean protein consumption was significantly less than that of the controls. In females, intake of most of the nutrients like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, copper and zinc were less in comparison to controls. In both the sexes mean choline intake was lower significantly in comparison to exposed controls. Riboflavin, copper, zinc and vitamin B6 consumption were below the RDAs in nearly 90 % of the study population. The strongest trend in ORs was for protein (4.28). The present study revealed that low socio-economic status along with dietary intake of calorie, protein and micronutrients like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, zinc and choline may have a definite role in increasing the risk of development of arsenicosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DNGM Research Foundation, Kolkata, India

    Debasree Deb & Debendra N. Guha Mazumder

  2. Department of Home Science (Food and Nutrition), University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Debasree Deb

  3. Department of Community Medicine, KPC Medical College & Hospital, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700 032, West Bengal, India

    Kunal K. Majumdar

  4. Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, DNGM Research Foundation, Kolkata, 700 053, India

    Debendra N. Guha Mazumder

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  1. Debasree Deb
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Correspondence to Kunal K. Majumdar.

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Deb, D., Majumdar, K.K. & Mazumder, D.N.G. Arsenicosis and Dietary Nutrient Intake Among Men and Women. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 83, 405–413 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-013-0161-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-013-0161-2

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