Dietary mineral supplies in Malawi: spatial and socioeconomic assessment

Food security is defined as having access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet the needs of an active and healthy life [1]. Food insecurity can manifest as 'hunger' due to inadequate dietary energy intake, or 'hidden hunger', due to deficiencies of vitamins and mineral elements. Hidden hunger is widespread globally with an estimated two billion people at risk of vitamin A, iron (Fe), iodine (I) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies, causing a considerable social and economic burden particularly in low-income countries including sub-Saharan Africa [2-10]. Deficiencies of other vitamins and elements are also likely to be widespread globally, including selenium (Se) which shows significant spatial variation due to environmental factors [11-14].