Microelements in food materials consumed by children in boarding schools and day nurseries

Abstract

The basic resources of microelements that are essential for human life are food materials. However, in larger or lower amounts, they may become more important and critical. They may be accumulated in biological systems and pose a significant hazard to health. Biochemical and physical adaptation of microorganisms are related to geophysical properties and the environmental factors in the surrounding habitat. Therefore, many research activities have focused on microelements and their effect on ecosystem. In the Republic of Azerbaijan specialized research activities have been carried out since 1950s. This study has been carried out in the Kuba-Khachmas and Sheki-Zaqatala regions where endemic goiter is a critical health disease. In order to compare the effect of microelements, their level in a blank region, Absheron peninsula, was also investigated. 160 samples of consumed food materials in the regions were collected from boarding and nursery schools. Iodine, fluorine, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc and molybdenum levels were determined for each sample Although for almost each microelements a large range was observed between minimum and maximum levels, the results showed that the soil character in the studied areas had lower microelement amount levels than required for vital activities.