Every day, children all around South Africa suffer the effects of iron and zinc deficiency. That means “greater risk of dying, weak immune systems, stunted growth and poor brain development” says Vinet Coetzee of the Micronutrient Nutrition Research Programme (MNRP) at the University of Pretoria (UP). “That results in kids not performing well in school and later earning a lower income, through cognitive development and stunted growth,” she says. 

To address this, her research is looking for affordable, non-invasive, zinc and iron tests. The current tests relies on drawing blood, which makes it expensive and time-consuming, and dependent on skilled technicians and a good electricity supply. Add in that most children are scared of needles, and that micronutrient deficiencies are most common in rural areas, and the need for new tests is glaringly obvious.

The tests that they are developing at MNRP are rapid, don’t need to draw blood, and can be performed by almost anybody with minimal training. “That means that you can screen more people, so you’ll know which groups are more at risk,” says Coetzee. “And you can identify trends in the population, which is important for national health decisions.” It also means the tests can be done in the field. This work will build on Coetzee’s recent research on skin pigments as an indicator of good health. She recently showed that people who eat more beta-carotene (from fruit and vegetables) have a more yellow skin colour, which makes them appear more healthy and attractive. The current project is at an early stage – Coetzee has one Masters student, who will start work in January. “If we’re successful, it will take a lot of strain off the national health system, because the method would be a lot cheaper than current methods, and could be used much more widely.”

Along with some of the dietary interventions planned by other MNRP researchers to address zinc deficiency, Coetzee’s research may help break the cycle of malnourishment that plagues South Africa’s poorest citizens.