Summary
This observational study quantifies marked spatial variability in selenium status among Ethiopian children in two regions with contrasting soil selenium concentrations. East Amhara children had approximately 4-fold higher dietary selenium intakes (median 30.2 μg/day) and significantly elevated breast milk and urinary selenium compared to West Amhara (median 7.4 μg/day), with 92% of West Amhara children at risk of inadequate intake. The finding that urinary selenium excretion was weakly correlated with dietary intake in the deficient West Amhara region suggests physiological conservation mechanisms operate under selenium scarcity, and points to the need for targeted agronomic interventions to enhance crop selenium concentrations.
UK applicability
The findings on selenium bioavailability and dietary adequacy in cereals and legume-based diets may be relevant to UK nutrition policy for vulnerable populations, though UK dietary intakes are generally adequate due to selenium-rich imports and varying soil supplementation practices. The methodological approach using ICP-MS analysis of foods and biomarkers may inform UK micronutrient monitoring systems.
Key measures
Dietary selenium intake (μg/day) via weighed food records; selenium concentration in food items, breast milk (μg/L), and spot urine samples (μg/L); urinary selenium excretion as percentage of dietary intake; prevalence of inadequate selenium intake; correlation between dietary intake and urinary excretion
Outcomes reported
The study measured selenium concentration in foods, breast milk, and urine samples from children aged 6–23 months in two Ethiopian regions with contrasting soil selenium levels, and assessed dietary selenium intake adequacy. Selenium intakes and biomarker concentrations differed significantly between East and West Amhara, with marked spatial variability in dietary adequacy risk.
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