PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rahimzadeh-Barzoki, Hadi
AU  - Joshaghani, Hamidreza
AU  - Beirami, Somayeh
AU  - Mansurian, Morteza
AU  - Semnani, Shahryar
AU  - Roshandel, Gholamreza
TI  - Selenium levels in rice samples from high and low risk areas for esophageal cancer
DP  - 2014 Jun 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 617--620
VI  - 35
IP  - 6
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/35/6/617.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/35/6/617.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2014 Jun 01; 35
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between selenium (Se) concentration in rice and the incidence of esophageal cancer (EC) in a high risk area in Northern Iran.METHODS: This ecological study was conducted in Golestan province of Iran in 2012. In this area, 45714 acres of land are cultivated by rice. A total of 69 rice samples were taken. We investigated Se concentrations by the voltammetric method. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation test and Mann-Whitney U test.RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) Se level in rice samples was 0.229 (+/-0.145) mg/kg. The Se concentration was significantly higher in rice samples from high EC rate areas (0.35 mg/kg) compared with low risk areas (0.16 mg/kg) (p<0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between the levels of Se in rice and the incidence rate of EC (p=0.03).CONCLUSION: We found a high rice Se concentration and a significant positive relationship between rice Se levels and EC rates in the Golestan province of Iran. High soil and rice Se levels may play a possible role in the pathogenesis of EC in this area.