Iodine source apportionment in the Malawian diet.
The aim of this study was to characterise nutritional-I status in Malawi. Dietary-I intakes were assessed using new datasets of crop, fish, salt and water-I concentrations, while I status was assessed for 60 women living on each of calcareous and non-calcareous soils as defined by urinary iodine concentration (UIC). Iodine concentration in staple foods was low, with median concentrations of 0.01 mg kg(-1) in maize grain, 0.008 mg kg(-1) in roots and tubers, but 0.155 mg kg(-1) in leafy vegetables. Freshwater fish is a good source of dietary-I with a median concentration of 0.51 mg kg(-1). Mean Malawian dietary-Iodine intake from food, excluding salt, was just 7.8 μg d(-1) compared to an adult requirement of 150 μg d(-1). Despite low dietary-I intake from food, median UICs were 203 μg L(-1) with only 12% defined as I deficient whilst 21% exhibited excessive I intake. Iodised salt is likely to be the main source of dietary I intake in Malawi; thus, I nutrition mainly depends on the usage and concentration of I in iodised salt. Drinking water could be a significant source of I in some areas, providing up to 108 μg d(-1) based on consumption of 2 L d(-1).
Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK.
M J
MJ
Watts
Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK.|School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK.
E J M
EJ
Joy
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK.
S D
SD
Young
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK.
M R
MR
Broadley
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Lunyangwa Research Station, PO Box 59, Malawi.
A D C
AD
Chilimba
University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
R S
RS
Gibson
Department of Home Economics and Human Nutrition, Bunda College, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, PO Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi.
E W P
EW
Siyame
Department of Home Economics and Human Nutrition, Bunda College, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, PO Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi.
A A
AA
Kalimbira
Community Health Sciences Unit, Ministry of Health, Private Bag 65, Lilongwe, Malawi.
B
B
Chilima
Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK.
E L
EL
Ander
D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008295:Malawi
D007455:Iodine