Trace Elements in Medicine (Moscow)
2018, 19(2): 49-56
ORIGINAL PAPER

REGIONAL APPROACH TO PROVIDING WFP UN SERVICES: COMPARISON OF MULTIELEMENT HAIR DATA OF SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM TAJIKISTAN, AZERBAIJAN, KAZAKHSTAN, TURKMENISTAN, BANGLADESH, MACEDONIA, CROATIA, AND RUSSIAN FEDERATION

A.R. Grabeklis, K.A. Abazov , A.A. Skalny , Yu.N. Lobanova

1 RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklay str., 10/2, Moscow 117198, Russia 2 Yaroslavl State University, Sovetskaya str., 14, Yaroslavl 150000, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2018-19-2-49-56  

ABSTRACT. The technology (methodology) of non-invasive screening of human elemental status was tested under real conditions of Tajikistan child population in scope of assessment of dietary provision of schoolchildren with chemical elements – micronutrients, and of load with heavy metals. The project was implemented within the framework of regional activity of the World Food Programme (WFP). There were totally examined 588 schoolchildren of 1−4 classes of average educational institutions aged 7−10 years (301 girls, 287 boys), residing in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan in Sughd and Khatlon regions, including those involved and not involved in WFP programme of organized school nutrition with hot meals provision fortified with vitamins and trace elements. The study included collection of hair samples and determination of 25 main physiologically significant macro and trace elements in them by the ICP-MS method. The obtained results confirmed known patterns of gender difference in hair mineral content with lower levels of most elements in girls, hair except magnesium. Also, the results revealed extremely low levels of copper and iodine in hair of Tajik schoolchildren: Cu 7.94 and 8.14 µg/g, I 0.094 and 0.071 µg/g respectively in boys and girls in average. Occurrence of copper deficiency as estimated by hair level of the element was 73.2% cases in schools involved in WFP programme and more than 90% cases in schools not involved in WFP programme. Iodine deficiency was registered in 84.4% and 84.2% children, respectively. Comparison of trace element patterns with corresponding data obtained earlier from children of the same age and sex living in other countries (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Bangladesh, Macedonia, Croatia, and two regions of Russia) also showed a very decreased Cu, I levels in Tajik schoolchildren, suggesting that a lack of supply with these elements can be a cause of anemia and goiter widespread in this territory.

KEYWORDS: trace elements, macro elements, hair analysis, schoolchildren, Tajikistan, World Food Programme.