Manganese intake and congenital dislocation of the hip
Xilinas, M.E.
South African Medical Journal 63(11): 393
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 6828942 Document Number: 205302
Fincham et al. (NAR/A 52, 5231) and Mackenzie (South African Medical Journal (1981) 60, 920) noted that the Mseleni joint disease of South Africa may be due to manganese deficiency. Xilinas and Largarde (NAR 46, 5413) suggested that in Finistere, France, congenital dislocation of the hip may be caused by Mn deficiency resulting from the practice of alkalinizing the soil and impairing the uptake of Mn by plants. The present letter notes that in parts of Manitoba, Canada and of Arizona, USA the soil is very alkaline. In those 2 areas and in Finistere the incidence of the hips disorder has decreased in recent decades following changes in diet caused by increased transport and commerce. The low Mn intake for several generations is closed ecological communities such as the Bigoudins of Finistere, American Indians and Zulu may explain their high incidence of congenital hip malformation.