title: Soil-type influences human selenium status and underlies widespread selenium deficiency risks in Malawi.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.forename: Edwin W P
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Siyame
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Allan D C
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Chilimba
authors.forename: Edward J M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: E Louise
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ander
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Benson
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chilima
authors.forename: Jellita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gondwe
authors.forename: Dalitso
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang'ombe
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fairweather-Tait
authors.forename: Rosalind S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kalimbira
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Broadley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005308:Fertilizers; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008295:Malawi; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D018977:Micronutrients; D012987:Soil; D012643:Selenium