ArticleMalawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi2011
Nutritive potential of some 'edible' soils in Blantyre city, Malawi.
Article in Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Prevalence and determinants of anemia among people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy in public health facilities in Jigjiga, Ethiopia.AIDS research and therapy · 2026Article
- Review of the nature of some geophagic materials and their potential health effects on pregnant women: some examples from Africa.Environmental geochemistry and health · 2019Review
- Prevalence and risk factors for anemia severity and type in Malawian men and women: urban and rural differences.Population health metrics · 2017Article
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Abstract
backgroundPregnant women in Malawi consume soil, but the nutritive potential of these soils is uncertain.
methodsWe collected 'edible' Malawian soil samples from Ndirande, Mpingwe and Soche hills and bought an Indian soil sample from a shop in Limbe and tested them for iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, lead, pH, Bacillus and Clostridium, using standard methods of analyses.
findingsBased on an average daily consumption of fifty grammes of soil, Blantyre 'edible' soils can supply 0.006%, 0.2%, 7% and 74% whilst the Indian soil may supply 0.008%, 0.27%, 8.7%, and 65% of the WHO recommended minimum daily intakes of Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc and iron, respectively. However, both the Blantyre and Indian 'edible' soils also have some traces of lead (0.05 to 0.07 mg/g soil) and spores of Bacillus (4900 - 13475 colonies/gram) and Clostridium (5050 - 9050 colonies/gram), which may have undesirable health effects. Blantyre soils were similar but significantly different from the Indian soil which had higher calcium, magnesium, zinc and lead but lower iron.
conclusionThe soils have nutritive potential, but they also have harmful aspects. Recommendation Further multidisciplinary research should be conducted to assess the nutritive potential of soils from other areas in Malawi and to examine the health effects of lead and bacterial spores.
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