Recent research providing global estimates suggests that over half of the Global population consumes inadequate levels of 15 micronutrients that are essential to health, such as iron, calcium, as well as vitamins C and E. The study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has been published in The Lancet Global Health.
Examining 15 nutritional deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies are one of the most common forms of malnutrition around the World. However, each type of deficiency can carry its own consequences such as adverse pregnancy outcomes, blindness, anemia, poor physical and mental development, fatigue, hair loss, irregular heartbeat, delayed healing, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. This study evaluates whether amounts of micronutrients available to and consumed by people meet the requirements recommended for optimal health and examines the inadequacies specifically facing males and females across their lifespans.
“Our study is a big step forward,” said co-lead author Chris Free, a research professor at UCSB. “Not only because it is the first to estimate inadequate micronutrient intakes for 34 age-sex groups in nearly every country, but also because it makes these methods and results easily accessible to researchers and practitioners.”
Micronutrient deficiency in 185 countries
Utilizing data from the Global Dietary Database, the World Bank, and dietary recall surveys in 31 countries to compare nutritional requirements with nutritional intake among the populations of 185 countries the researchers divided populations into males and females belonging to 17 age groups: zero to 80 in five-year spans, as well as an 80+ group. The assessment studied fifteen vitamins and minerals: calcium, iodine, iron, riboflavin, folate, zinc, magnesium, selenium, thiamin, niacin, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and E.
According to the researchers, significant intake inadequacies were found for nearly all of the micronutrients included in this study, excluding fortification as a potential source of additional nutrients. The analysis revealed that 68% of the global population was deficient in iodine, 67% had vitamin E deficiencies, 66% calcium, and 65% had inadequate levels of iron.
The analysis also revealed that over half of the people consumed inadequate levels of the micronutrients riboflavin, folate, and vitamins C and B6. Although still inadequate, the intake of niacin was closest to being sufficient, with 22% of the global population consuming inadequate levels, followed by thiamin (30%) and selenium (37%).
Patterns among sexes
Inadequate intake of the micronutrients iodine, iron, selenium, and vitamin B12 were higher among women than men. While inadequate intake of calcium, niacin, zinc, thiamin, magnesium as well as vitamins A, C, and B6 were higher among men than women. Patterns of micronutrient inadequacy appeared to emerge more clearly on the basis of sex, and males and females between the ages of 10-30 were found to be the most prone to low levels of calcium intake, especially so in South and East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, calcium intake was also low across North America, Europe, and Central Asia.
Alarming public health challenge
“These results are alarming,” said Ty Beal, senior technical specialist at GAIN. “Most people — even more than previously thought, across all regions and countries of all incomes — are not consuming enough of multiple essential micronutrients. These gaps compromise health outcomes and limit human potential on a global scale.”
“The public health challenge facing us is immense, but practitioners and policymakers have the opportunity to identify the most effective dietary interventions and target them to the populations most in need,” added senior author Christopher Golden, associate professor of nutrition and planetary health at Harvard Chan School.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Content may be edited for style and length.
References/Sources/Materials provided by:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00276-6
https://worldhealth.net/news/overlooked-symptoms-possible-vitamin-deficiencies/
https://worldhealth.net/news/hidden-hunger-and-iron-deficiency/
https://worldhealth.net/news/has-obesity-become-greater-risk-global-health-hun
