JOPSOM 2012; 31(1-2): 51-62 51 Original Contribution ARSENICOSIS: NUTRITION AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS Sk Akhtar Ahmad, 1 Manzurul Haque Khan, 2 MH Faruquee, 1 Rabeya Yasmin, 1 Shanta Dutta, 1 and Masakazu Tani, 3 Masashi Kobayashi, 4 Hisae Shinohara 5 ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between Arsenicosis patients with nutrition intake and socio-economic factors. Materials and methods: This cross sectional comparative study was conducted amongst the households having arsenicosis patients and no arsenicosis patients. A total of 35 households were selected for this study. Of them 21 households who had arsenicosis patients were selected randomly. For comparison 14 households who had no arsenicosis patients but exposed to similar arsenic contaminated water were selected. A total 1,062 meals were recorded in 35 households for analysis. Place and period of study: The study was conducted during 2005 in Samta village of Jessore district where tube-well water is severely contaminated by arsenic and having many arsenicosis patients. Households having both arsenicosis patients and no arsenicosis patients were selected from the same area of the village. Results: From 35 households a total 1,062 meals were studied. Amongst these meals rice (47.8%) and vegetables (42.9%) were the most frequently cooked items. Protein foods particularly the egg (4.2%) and meat (7.0%) were the lowest cooked items. It was found that households with arsenicosis patients consumed significantly (p<0.05) less protein, especially animal protein than the households with no arsenicosis patients. The households without arsenicosis patients had significantly (p<0.05) higher income compared to that of households having arsenicosis patients. Conclusion: The study concluded that the arsenicosis were more prevalent amongst the low income households. The low income households took less protein particularly fish and meat compared to that of wealthier households. The difference in protein intake might result in higher patients in poorer households and fewer patients in wealthier households. JOPSOM 2012; 31(1-2): 51-62 Key words: Arsenic Toxicity, Arsenicosis, Nutrition, Nutrient. Socio-economic factors 1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, BUHS 2. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, NIPSOM 3. Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Japan 4. Hokuriku Gakuin Junior College, Japan 5. Faculty of Education and Culture, Miyazaki University, Japan Correspondence: Sk. Akhtar Ahmad Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS) 125/1 Darus Salam, Mirpur-1, Dhaka-1216 E-mail: anon@bdcom.com