Speaker
Description
Pica, defined as the persistent craving and consumption of non-nutritive substances, poses a complex health challenge with potential links to trace element imbalances. This presentation focuses on geophagy—the consumption of earth or clay—as a specific form of pica with significant implications for trace element status. While often associated with cultural traditions or psychological factors, geophagy can also signal underlying nutritional deficiencies, particularly in minerals such as iron, zinc, and copper.
This presentation will address:
- The dual role of trace elements – their essentiality for human health and the risks posed by both deficiencies and excesses.
- Geophagy as a nutritional indicator – evidence linking the practice to deficiencies in iron, zinc, and other essential trace elements.
- Health impacts of geophagy – potential benefits and harms, including anemia, heavy metal toxicity, and gastrointestinal complications.
- The importance of context – considering cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors in understanding geophagy.
- Broader connections – linking climate change, land degradation, and food security to the occurrence and persistence of geophagy.
The goal is to raise awareness of the intricate relationship between geophagy and trace element status, and to highlight the need for comprehensive assessment and culturally sensitive interventions to address this multifaceted and often misunderstood condition
