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Nutrients such as iron and calcium are essential for blood and bone health, respectively, but a new study suggests that more than half the world’s population doesn’t get enough of these nutrients, along with five other nutrients essential to human health.
More than 5 billion people are found to not get enough iodine, vitamin E, or calcium. Research published August 29th More than four billion people don’t get enough iron, riboflavin, folate, or vitamin C, according to a study published in the Lancet Global Health journal.
“Our study is a major step forward,” said co-principal investigator Dr. Christopher Free, an assistant research scientist at UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute and the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. News ReleaseFree also specializes in human nutrition.
“This is not only the first study to estimate inadequate micronutrient intakes across 34 age and sex groups in almost every country, but also because these methods and results are now easily accessible to researchers and experts,” Freeh added.
The new study says that although previous studies have assessed micronutrient deficiencies and inadequate supplies of foods containing micronutrients on a global scale, no global estimates have been made of the intake that would be considered inadequate based on nutritional requirements.
For these reasons, the team estimated the prevalence of inadequate intakes of 15 micronutrients in 185 countries, or 99.3% of the population, by modelling “globally harmonized age- and sex-specific nutrient requirements” applied to data from the 2018 World Diet Database, which estimates intakes based on individual surveys, household surveys and national food supply data.
The authors also found differences between women and men: women were more likely than men to have inadequate intakes of iodine, vitamin B12, iron, and selenium, while men were less likely to have inadequate intakes of magnesium, zinc, thiamin, niacin, and vitamins A, B6, and C.
There were also geographic patterns: inadequate intakes of riboflavin, folate, vitamins B6 and B12 were particularly prevalent in India, while calcium inadequacy was highest in South Asia, East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific region.
“These findings are alarming,” Tai Beale, a senior technical expert at the Switzerland-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and co-author of the study, said in a news release. “Most people, across all regions, countries and income levels, are not getting enough of several essential micronutrients, much more than previously thought. These gaps are worsening health and limiting human potential on a global scale.”
The findings are unique but consistent with what has been found in smaller national studies over the years, Dr. Lauren Sastre, assistant professor of nutritional sciences and director of the Farm to Clinic Program at East Carolina University in North Carolina, said in an email.
“This is a worthwhile study,” added Sastre, who was not involved in the study.
The study has some important limitations. First, it didn’t include the intake of supplements or fortified foods, so some of the deficiencies found in the study might not be as bad in reality if people were taking supplements or fortified foods that theoretically increase their intake of certain nutrients, the authors say. But supplements and fortification of many of the other nutrients studied are rare worldwide, the authors say.
However, 89% of people worldwide consume iodized salt. According to UNICEF“Thus, iodine may be the only nutrient whose dietary intake deficiency is overestimated,” the authors said in reference to their findings.
“My only criticism is that they leave out potassium because there’s no standard,” Sastre said. “We do have potassium in the U.S., but most people don’t get enough. And you have to balance that with sodium. Some people are getting too much sodium, and they’re getting very little potassium, which is essential for blood pressure and heart health.”
Moreover, more complete information on the dietary intake of individuals around the world is lacking, particularly nationally representative datasets or datasets that include intakes for more than one day, the researchers say, limiting researchers’ ability to validate their model estimates.
And while the team measured inadequate intake, there was no data on whether that translated into a deficiency, which must be diagnosed by a doctor or nutritionist based on blood tests or symptoms.
A nutritionist or doctor can help determine if you are getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals, or if blood tests have demonstrated a deficiency.
“Micronutrients play an important role in cellular function, immunity and metabolism,” Sastre says, “but we’re not getting the fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains that we need. They’re where we can get them. We need to follow the recommendations of the American Heart Association.”Eat the rainbow”
Below, we explain why the seven nutrients with the lowest global intake are important, and some foods that are rich in them.
1. calcium
● Important for strong bones and overall health
● Found in dairy products, fortified soy, almonds, rice-based alternatives, dark green leafy vegetables, tofu, sardines, salmon, tahini, and fortified orange and grapefruit juice.
2. Folic acid
● Important for red blood cell formation, cell growth and function, especially during pregnancy
Found in dark green vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, bread, pasta, rice, and fortified grains such as cereals
3. Iodine
● Important for thyroid function, bone and brain development
● Found in fish, seaweed, shrimp, dairy products, eggs and iodized salt
4. iron
● Important for supplying oxygen to the body and for growth and development
Found in oysters, duck, beef, sardines, crab, lamb, fortified grains, spinach, artichokes, beans, lentils, dark green leafy vegetables, and potatoes
5. magnesium
● Important for muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, protein, bone and DNA production
– Found in legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables and fortified cereals
6. Niacin
● Important for the nervous and digestive systems
Found in beef, chicken, marinara sauce, turkey, brown rice, pumpkin seeds, salmon and fortified grains
7. Riboflavin
Important for food metabolism for energy, immune system, and healthy skin and hair
● Found in eggs, dairy products, meat, whole grains and green vegetables
