Geophagia in Man: Its Nature and Nutritional Effects

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Abstract
In this review the phenomenon of geophagia has been analyzed in terms of its nature, its incidence, its history in medicine, and its clinical effects. It is pointed out that geophagia leads to iron deficiency. The probable mechanism whereby this occurs is the cation-exchange capacity of clay to inhibit iron absorption. There is suggestive evidence from single case reports that the cation-exchange capacity of clay may also prevent absorption of potassium and mercury. It is speculated that the same mechanism may result in the inhibition of absorption of zinc, leading to zinc deficiency.

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