title: Variation in the mineral element concentration of Moringa oleifera Lam. and M. stenopetala (Bak. f.) Cuf.: Role in human nutrition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Moringa oleifera (MO) and M. stenopetala (MS) (family Moringaceae; order Brassicales) are multipurpose tree/shrub species. They thrive under marginal environmental conditions and produce nutritious edible parts. The aim of this study was to determine the mineral composition of different parts of MO and MS growing in their natural environments and their potential role in alleviating human mineral micronutrient deficiencies (MND) in sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Edible parts of MO (n = 146) and MS (n = 50), co-occurring cereals/vegetables and soils (n = 95) underneath their canopy were sampled from localities in southern Ethiopia and Kenya. The concentrations of seven mineral elements, namely, calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iodine (I), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in edible parts and soils were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Ethiopian crops, MS leaves contained the highest median concentrations of all elements except Cu and Zn, which were greater in Enset (a.k.a., false banana). In Kenya, Mo flowers and MS leaves had the highest median Se concentration of 1.56 mg kg-1 and 3.96 mg kg-1, respectively. The median concentration of Se in MS leaves was 7-fold, 10-fold, 23-fold, 117-fold and 147-fold more than that in brassica leaves, amaranth leaves, baobab fruits, sorghum grain and maize grain, respectively. The median Se concentration was 78-fold and 98-fold greater in MO seeds than in sorghum and maize grain, respectively. There was a strong relationship between soil total Se and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4)-extractable Se, and Se concentration in the leaves of MO and MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms previous studies that Moringa is a good source of several of the measured mineral nutrients, and it includes the first wide assessment of Se and I concentrations in edible parts of MO and MS grown in various localities. Increasing the consumption of MO and MS, especially the leaves as a fresh vegetable or in powdered form, could reduce the prevalence of MNDs, most notably Se deficiency.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, United Kingdom.|Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, United Kingdom.|Crops For the Future, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Diriba B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kumssa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Edward Jm
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.|Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Odee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: E Louise
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ander
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3964-7226
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Broadley
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D009752:Nutritional Status; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals