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

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dc.creatorHurst, Rachel
dc.creatorSiyame, Edwin W. P.
dc.creatorYoung, Scott D.
dc.creatorChilimba, Allan D.C.
dc.creatorJoy, Edward J.M.
dc.creatorBlack, Colin R.
dc.creatorAnder, E. Louise
dc.creatorWatts, Michael J.
dc.creatorChilima, Benson
dc.creatorGondwe, Jellita
dc.creatorKang'ombe, Dalitso
dc.creatorStein, Alexander J.
dc.creatorFairweather-Tait, Susan J.
dc.creatorGibson, Rosalind S.
dc.creatorKalimbira, Alexander A.
dc.creatorBroadley, Martin R.
dc.date2013
dc.date2024-10-01T13:55:08Z
dc.date2024-10-01T13:55:08Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T14:55:25Z
dc.descriptionSelenium (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.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/152733
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/89509
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceHurst, 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.; and Broadley, Martin R. 2013. Soil-type influences human selenium status and underlies widespread selenium deficiency risks in Malawi. Scientific Reports 3: 1425. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01425
dc.subjectselenium
dc.subjecttrace elements
dc.subjectantioxidants
dc.subjectdeficiency diseases
dc.subjectsoil types
dc.subjectimmune system
dc.subjecthuman pathology
dc.subjectcrops
dc.titleSoil-type influences human selenium status and underlies widespread selenium deficiency risks in Malawi
dc.typeJournal Article

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Instituto Internacional de Investigación sobre Políticas Alimentarias (IFPRI)