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Review
. 2023 Feb 20:9:1084589.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1084589. eCollection 2022.

Current status of research and gaps in knowledge of geophagic practices in Africa

Theophilus C Davies  1
Affiliations
Review

Current status of research and gaps in knowledge of geophagic practices in Africa

Theophilus C Davies. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

This article synthesises current knowledge and identifies research gaps on the still intriguing aspects of the subject of geophagy as practised in Africa. Despite the voluminous research literature that exists on the subject, geophagy in Africa is still a largely misunderstood phenomenon. Although the practice is not confined to any particular age group, race, gender, or geographical region, in Africa it is most commonly recorded among pregnant women and children. Till now, the precise aetiology of geophagy remains obscure; but the practice is thought to have both beneficial effects such as having a role as a nutrient supplement, as well as several demerits. An updated critical review of human geophagy in Africa - with a section on (other) animal geophagy -, highlights several aspects of the practice that need further research. A comprehensive bibliography is assembled, comprising some of the more pertinent and recently published papers (mostly post-dating the year 2005), as well as older seminal works, providing a baseline and robust framework for aiding the search process of Medical Geology researchers and those from allied fields wanting to explore the still poorly understood aspects of geophagy in Africa.

Keywords: Africa; aetiology; bioavailability; geophagy; microbiological infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The distribution of geophagy in Africa (shown by the dots) is widespread, though not all countries of the Continent (e.g., some countries in the Sahara) practice the phenomenon. Source: Compiled by Henry and Cring (5) from data by Anell and Lagercrantz (79) and Abrahams and Parsons (131).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
What are the effects of geophagic practices on the developing foetus? (A) In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 84% of geophagy practitioners in some regions are thought to be pregnant women. Source: MUV (Medical University of Vienna), (15). (B) Geophagic soil consumed by pregnant women on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago. Credit: Sera Young, Columbia University Press.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
HARI Clay-Cal, a supplement made available by the distributor: La Voliere Parrot Boutique. It is claimed to be an effective calcium supplement for pet birds whose seed diets are low in calcium. Source: http://usa.hagen.com/File/Image/m/275/250/0707dccc-1372-4f2c-8106-6fbe4dae2827 (accessed 09.03.2020).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Meyer’s parrot eating clay at a bird hide in Kafue National Park, Zambia. Credit: Butsfons. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cirdan-travels/38709238452 (accessed 29.10.2022).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
The human digestion system: Conversion of soil into absorbable substances in the gastrointestinal tract starts in the mouth and continues in the stomach and intestines. Source: Abrahams (91).
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Illustration of how the microbiota in our environment can influence the human intestine microbiome, through direct contact with soil and faeces as well as through food (quality). (A) A cycle for pre-industrial microbiota. (B) A cycle for industrial microbiota. Source: From Blum et al. (98).
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References

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