Soil-type influences human selenium status and underlies widespread selenium deficiency risks in Malawi

Hurst, Rachel; Siyame, Edwin W.P.; Young, Scott D.; Chilimba, Allan D.C.; Joy, Edward J.M.; Black, Colin R.; Ander, E. Louise; Watts, Michael J.; Chilima, Benson; Gondwe, Jellita; Kang'ombe, Dalitso; Stein, Alexander J.; Fairweather-Tait, Susan J.; Gibson, Rosalind S.; Kalimbira, Alexander A.; Broadley, Martin R.. 2013 Soil-type influences human selenium status and underlies widespread selenium deficiency risks in Malawi. Scientific Reports, 3. 10.1038/srep01425

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep01425

Abstract/Summary

Selenium (Se) is an essential human micronutrient with critical roles in immune functioning and antioxidant defence. Estimates of dietary Se intakes and status are scarce for Africa although crop surveys indicate deficiency is probably widespread in Malawi. Here we show that Se deficiency is likely endemic in Malawi based on the Se status of adults consuming food from contrasting soil types. These data are consistent with food balance sheets and composition tables revealing that >80% of the Malawi population is at risk of dietary Se inadequacy. Risk of dietary Se inadequacy is >60% in seven other countries in Southern Africa, and 22% across Africa as a whole. Given that most Malawi soils cannot supply sufficient Se to crops for adequate human nutrition, the cost and benefits of interventions to alleviate Se deficiency should be determined; for example, Se-enriched nitrogen fertilisers could be adopted as in Finland.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/srep01425
ISSN:	2045-2322
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This article published Open Access under Creative Commons Attribution Licence 3
Date made live:	23 Apr 2013 08:37 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/501452

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/srep01425

ISSN:

2045-2322

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

This article published Open Access under Creative Commons Attribution Licence 3

Date made live:

23 Apr 2013 08:37 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/501452