Vitamin deficiency in golestan province, northern Iran: A high-risk area for esophageal cancer

Objectives: Dietary factors seem to play a major role in esophageal carcinogenesis in Golestan Province, a high-incidence area for esophageal cancer in northern Iran. The current study was conducted to evaluate previous reports on severe de�ciency of vitamin intake in Golestan. Methods: Using a food frequency questionnaire, food intake data were collected from 30,463 healthy participants in the Golestan Cohort Study. Intake of selected nutrients was compared with recommended daily allowance and lowest threshold intake values. Results: Vitamin A intake in the majority of participants was lower than recommended values. The proportion of participants with intakes lower than lowest threshold intake was as follows: urban men, 20%; urban women, 31%; rural men, 48%;