Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Zinc deficiency is highly prevalent and spatially dependent over short distances in Ethiopia

Belay, Adamu; Gashu, Dawd; Joy, Edward J.M.; Lark, R. Murray; Chagumaira, Christopher; Likoswe, Blessings H.; Zerfu, Dilnesaw; Ander, E. Louise; Young, Scott D.; Bailey, Elizabeth H.; Broadley, Martin R.

Zinc deficiency is highly prevalent and spatially dependent over short distances in Ethiopia Thumbnail


Authors

Adamu Belay

Dawd Gashu

Edward J.M. Joy

Profile image of MURRAY LARK

MURRAY LARK MURRAY.LARK@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Geoinformatics

Christopher Chagumaira

Blessings H. Likoswe

Dilnesaw Zerfu

E. Louise Ander

Scott D. Young

LIZ BAILEY LIZ.BAILEY@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Environmental Geochemistry



Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an essential nutrient for human health. In Ethiopia, a high prevalence of Zn deficiency has been reported. To explore demographic variation and spatial dependencies in the Zn status of the Ethiopian population, we analyzed archived serum samples (n = 3373) from the 2015 Ethiopian National Micronutrient Survey (ENMS), a cross-sectional survey of young children, school-age children, women of reproductive age (WRA) and men conducted in all 9 regions and two city administration of Ethiopia. Serum Zn concentrations, measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS), were compared to thresholds based on age, sex, fasting status, and time of blood collection, after adjusting for inflammation status. Median serum Zn concentration of the population was 57.5 μg dL . Overall, it is estimated that 72% of the population was Zn deficient, with high prevalence in all demographic groups. Spatial statistical analysis showed that there was spatial dependence in Zn status of WRA at distances of up to 45 km. Zinc deficiency is spatially dependent over short distances. Although WRA in most areas are likely to be Zn deficient, prevalence of deficiency varies at regional scale and between rural and urban inhabitants, suggesting there is scope to explore drivers of this variation, prioritize nutritional interventions, and to design more representative surveillance programs. −1

Citation

Belay, A., Gashu, D., Joy, E. J., Lark, R. M., Chagumaira, C., Likoswe, B. H., …Broadley, M. R. (2021). Zinc deficiency is highly prevalent and spatially dependent over short distances in Ethiopia. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 6510. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85977-x

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 5, 2021
Online Publication Date Mar 22, 2021
Publication Date Dec 1, 2021
Deposit Date Apr 25, 2021
Publicly Available Date Apr 26, 2021
Journal Scientific Reports
Electronic ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher Nature Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 11
Issue 1
Article Number 6510
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85977-x
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5433385
Publisher URL https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-85977-x

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations