Abstract
Food supply and composition data can be combined to estimate micronutrient intakes and deficiency risks among populations. These estimates can be improved by using local crop composition data that can capture environmental influences including soil type. This study aimed to provide spatially resolved crop composition data for Malawi, where information is currently limited.Six hundred and fifty-two plant samples, representing 97 edible food items, were sampled from >150 sites in Malawi between 2011 and 2013. Samples were analysed by ICP-MS for up to 58 elements, including the essential minerals calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn).Maize grain Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se and Zn concentrations were greater from plants grown on calcareous soils than those from the more widespread low-pH soils. Leafy vegetables from calcareous soils had elevated leaf Ca, Cu, Fe and Se concentrations, but lower Zn concentrations. Several foods were found to accumulate high levels of Se, including the leaves of Moringa, a crop not previously been reported in East African food composition data sets.New estimates of national dietary mineral supplies were obtained for non-calcareous and calcareous soils. High risks of Ca (100%), Se (100%) and Zn (57%) dietary deficiencies are likely on non-calcareous soils. Deficiency risks on calcareous soils are high for Ca (97%), but lower for Se (34%) and Zn (31%). Risks of Cu, Fe and Mg deficiencies appear to be low on the basis of dietary supply levels.
Highlights
Mineral micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) are an important global health problem, affecting up to two billion people worldwide (WHO, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009; Muthayya et al, 2013)
Samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for up to 58 elements, including the essential minerals calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn)
Broadley et al (2012) found that risks of deficiency are likely to be high for Ca but low for Mg in Malawi based on Food BalanceSheets (FBSs) supply data and national maize composition data
Summary
Mineral micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) are an important global health problem, affecting up to two billion people worldwide (WHO, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009; Muthayya et al, 2013). Dietary mineral intakes and infer deficiency risks. These methods include direct intake assessments from duplicate dietary analyses (e.g., Hurst et al, 2013) or, in conjunction with food composition tables (FCTs), individual recall-based dietary surveys (e.g., Gibson and Huddle, 1998; Department of Health/Food Standards Agency, 2011), household consumption data (e.g., Ecker and Qaim, 2011) and national Food Balance. E.J.M. Joy et al / Science of the Total Environment 505 (2015) 587–595
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