Geophagia: History, Epidemiology, and Etiology

121 Pages·2019·2.051 MB·\121

by  Anil Gupta (Author)

Geophagia
History, Epidemiology,
and Etiology

Geophagia
History, Epidemiology,
and Etiology
Anil Gupta
CRC Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Gupta, Anil (Child nutrition scientist), author.
Title: Geophagia : history, epidemiology, and etiology / by Dr. Anil Gupta.
Description: First edition. | Boca Raton : CRC Press, [2020] | Includes
bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “The consumption of
soil, clay and chalk by humans is labeled as geophagia. This book takes
a consistent, interdisciplinary approach for reviewing this aberrant behavior,
crafting its etiology, charting its health effects and identifying the universal
traits among the affected population”-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019027537 (print) | ISBN 9780367352868 (hardback :
alk. paper) | ISBN 9780429330391 (ebook)
Subjects: MESH: Pica--history | Pica--epidemiology | Pica--etiology
Classification: LCC RJ506.P53 (print) | LCC RJ506.P53 (ebook) | NLM WM
175 | DDC 618.92/8526--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019027537
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019027538
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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I dedicate my book to the Almighty,
SHRI SHIRDI SAI BABA

Contents
Foreword, xi
Preface, xiii
Acknowledgments, xv
Author, xvii
Chapter 1 ◾ I ntroduction to Geophagia 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.2 DEFINITIONS OF GEOPHAGIA 2
1.3 CRITICAL REVIEW OF GEOPHAGIA 3
1.4 HABIT OF PICA 5
1.5 TYPES OF PICA 7
1.6 LATEST POSTULATES ON GEOPHAGIA
AND PICA 9
1.7 CONCLUSION 10
REFERENCES 10
Chapter 2 ◾ H istory of Geophagia 17
2.1 INTRODUCTION 17
2.2 PREHISTORIC EVIDENCE 17
2.3 ANCIENT HISTORICAL EVIDENCE 18
vii
viii ◾ Contents
2.4 MEDIEVAL HISTORICAL EVIDENCE 20
2.5 CONTEMPORARY EVIDENCE 21
2.6 SUMMARY 23
REFERENCES 24
Chapter 3 ◾ E pidemiology of Geophagia 27
3.1 INTRODUCTION 27
3.2 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF
GEOPHAGIA 28
3.2.1 Global Prevalence of Geophagia 28
3.2.2 Prevalence of Geophagia in Africa 30
3.2.3 Prevalence of Geophagia in America 35
3.2.4 Prevalence of Geophagia in Asia 37
3.3 AGE PREDILECTION OF GEOPHAGIA 37
3.3.1 Geophagia in Children 37
3.3.2 Geophagia in Adults 38
3.4 PREVALENCE OF GEOPHAGIA IN
PREGNANCY 39
3.5 ETHNIC, CULTURAL, AND RACIAL
BASIS OF GEOPHAGIA 41
3.6 SUMMARY 42
REFERENCES 45
Chapter 4 ◾ E tiology of Geophagia 51
4.1 INTRODUCTION 51
4.2 MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY 52
4.2.1 Descriptive Evidence 59
4.2.2 Clinical Trials 60
4.2.3 Evidence against Micronutrient Deficiency 61
4.2.4 Critical Analysis 62
Contents   ◾   ix
4.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS 63
4.3.1 Descriptive Evidence in Favor of the
Hypothesis 64
4.4 HUNGER HYPOTHESIS 65
4.4.1 Descriptive Evidence in Favor 66
4.4.2 Critical Analysis of Hypothesis 66
4.5 CULTURE HYPOTHESIS 67
4.5.1 Descriptive Evidence in Favor
of Culture Hypothesis 69
4.6 PROTECTION HYPOTHESIS 73
4.6.1 Descriptive Evidence in Favor of
Protection Hypothesis 73
4.7 NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS AND PICA 77
4.7.1 Descriptive Evidence 78
4.8 SUMMARY 80
REFERENCES 82
Chapter 5 ◾ I ll Effects of Geophagia on Nutritional
Status of Preschool Children 93
REFERENCES 97
INDEX, 99