英国诺丁汉大学M. R. Broadley研究组在研究中取得进展。他们的研究发现埃塞俄比亚和马拉维地区谷物之间营养质量存在差异。这一研究成果于2021年5月19日在线发表在国际学术期刊《自然》上。
在本研究中，研究人员揭示了埃塞俄比亚和马拉维大多数谷物生产地区主粮谷物的微量营养元素成分（钙、铁、硒和锌）。研究表明，微量营养素的组成存在地理空间差异，这对下级地区具有重要的营养意义。影响谷物中微量营养素浓度的土壤和环境协变量包括土壤pH、土壤有机质、温度、降雨和地形，其特定于微量营养素和作物类型。对于消费本地食物的农村家庭（包括许多小农户社区）而言，居住地可能是决定谷物中微量营养素膳食摄入量的最大影响因素。这两个国家的谷物中硒浓度与硒食状态的生物标志物之间存在正相关关系。
根据国家和地区规模食品组成数据和饮食摄入量情况的生物标志物，对MNDS的监测可利用地方有关谷物微量营养素组成数据来改善。除了饮食多样化之外，减轻微量营养素缺乏症（MND）的干预措施除增加食品和增加作物中微量营养素的浓度外，还应考虑到地理环境的影响，其影响程度可能大于干预效果。
据介绍，MND在撒哈拉以南非洲地区的人群中仍普遍存在，由于社会经济和地理环境的原因，仅能获取有限富含微量营养素（维生素和矿物质）的动植物来源食物。
附：英文原文
Title: The nutritional quality of cereals varies geospatially in Ethiopia and Malawi
Author: D. Gashu, P. C. Nalivata, T. Amede, E. L. Ander, E. H. Bailey, L. Botoman, C. Chagumaira, S. Gameda, S. M. Haefele, K. Hailu, E. J. M. Joy, A. A. Kalimbira, D. B. Kumssa, R. M. Lark, I. S. Ligowe, S. P. McGrath, A. E. Milne, A. W. Mossa, M. Munthali, E. K. Towett, M. G. Walsh, L. Wilson, S. D. Young, M. R. Broadley
Issue&Volume: 2021-05-19
Abstract: Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) remain widespread among people in sub-Saharan Africa1,2,3,4,5, where access to sufficient food from plant and animal sources that is rich in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) is limited due to socioeconomic and geographical reasons4,5,6. Here we report the micronutrient composition (calcium, iron, selenium and zinc) of staple cereal grains for most of the cereal production areas in Ethiopia and Malawi. We show that there is geospatial variation in the composition of micronutrients that is nutritionally important at subnational scales. Soil and environmental covariates of grain micronutrient concentrations included soil pH, soil organic matter, temperature, rainfall and topography, which were specific to micronutrient and crop type. For rural households consuming locally sourced food—including many smallholder farming communities—the location of residence can be the largest influencing factor in determining the dietary intake of micronutrients from cereals. Positive relationships between the concentration of selenium in grain and biomarkers of selenium dietary status occur in both countries. Surveillance of MNDs on the basis of biomarkers of status and dietary intakes from national- and regional-scale food-composition data1,2,3,4,5,6,7 could be improved using subnational data on the composition of grain micronutrients. Beyond dietary diversification, interventions to alleviate MNDs, such as food fortification8,9 and biofortification to increase the micronutrient concentrations in crops10,11, should account for geographical effects that can be larger in magnitude than intervention outcomes.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03559-3
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03559-3
Nature：《自然》，创刊于1869年。隶属于施普林格·自然出版集团，最新IF：69.504
官方网址：http://www.nature.com/
投稿链接：http://www.nature.com/authors/submit_manuscript.html
本期文章：《自然》：Online/在线发表
