Billions of people are deficient in nutrients such as iron, calcium and iodine, a problem that can seriously compromise health, from bones to brain function. Discover where to find these seven vital nutrients in common foods and boost your health every day.
Nutrients such as iron and calcium are essential for healthy blood and bones, respectively. But more than half the world's population is not getting enough of these and five other nutrients that are also crucial for health, according to a study.
More than 5 billion people do not get enough iodine, vitamin E or calcium, a study published in The Lancet Global Health reveals . And more than 4 billion people have insufficient intake of iron, riboflavin (vitamin B), folate (vitamin B9 or folic acid) and vitamin C.
"Our study is a major step forward," said co-lead author Christopher Free, an assistant research scientist at the Marine Science Institute and Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in a press release. Free is also an expert in human nutrition.
"Not only because it is the first to estimate inadequate micronutrient intakes for 34 age-gender groups in nearly all countries," adds Free, "but also because it makes these methods and results easily accessible to researchers and health professionals."
Previous studies have assessed global micronutrient deficiencies or insufficient supply of foods containing them, but there were no global estimates of intakes considered inadequate based on nutritional needs, the study said.
For these reasons, the research team estimated the prevalence of inadequate intake of 15 micronutrients across 185 countries, or 99.3% of the population. They did so through modelling – applying a “globally harmonised set of age- and sex-specific nutrient requirements” to data from the 2018 Global Dietary Database, which provides intake estimates based on data from individual surveys, household surveys and national food supplies.
The authors also found differences between women and men. Women were more likely than men to not consume enough iodine, vitamin B12, iron and selenium. Men, however, did not get enough magnesium, zinc, thiamine (vitamin B1), niacin (vitamin B3) and vitamins A, B6 and C.
Geographical patterns were also noted. Insufficient intakes of riboflavin, folate, and vitamins B6 and B12 were particularly high in India, while deficient intakes of calcium were highest in South and East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Pacific.
“These findings are alarming,” study co-author Ty Beal, senior technical specialist at the Switzerland-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, said in the press release. “More people than previously thought, across all regions and countries of all incomes, are not getting enough of multiple essential micronutrients. These gaps compromise health and limit human potential on a global scale.”
While the findings are unique, they are in line with what other, smaller, country-specific studies have found over the years, Lauren Sastre, an assistant professor of nutrition science and director of the Farm to Clinic Program at East Carolina University in North Carolina, said in an email.
"This is a valuable study," adds Sastre, who was not involved in the research
The problems of assessing diets worldwide
The study has several important limitations. For one, because the investigation did not include consumption of supplements and fortified foods, some of the deficiencies found may not actually be as severe if some people were consuming supplements and fortified foods that would theoretically increase their intake of certain nutrients, the authors say. However, supplementation and fortification with many of the other nutrients studied are uncommon worldwide, the authors say.
But 89 percent of people worldwide consume iodized salt, according to UNICEF . "Iodine may therefore be the only nutrient for which inadequate intake through food is largely overestimated," the authors say, referring to their findings
More than 5 billion people do not get enough iodine, vitamin E or calcium, a study published in The Lancet Global Health reveals . And more than 4 billion people have insufficient intake of iron, riboflavin (vitamin B), folate (vitamin B9 or folic acid) and vitamin C.
"Our study is a major step forward," said co-lead author Christopher Free, an assistant research scientist at the Marine Science Institute and Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in a press release. Free is also an expert in human nutrition.
Billions of people do not get enough of at least seven micronutrients found in hundreds of foods, according to a study fcafotodigital/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN
"Not only because it is the first to estimate inadequate micronutrient intakes for 34 age-gender groups in nearly all countries," adds Free, "but also because it makes these methods and results easily accessible to researchers and health professionals."
Previous studies have assessed global micronutrient deficiencies or insufficient supply of foods containing them, but there were no global estimates of intakes considered inadequate based on nutritional needs, the study said.
For these reasons, the research team estimated the prevalence of inadequate intake of 15 micronutrients across 185 countries, or 99.3% of the population. They did so through modelling – applying a “globally harmonised set of age- and sex-specific nutrient requirements” to data from the 2018 Global Dietary Database, which provides intake estimates based on data from individual surveys, household surveys and national food supplies.
The authors also found differences between women and men. Women were more likely than men to not consume enough iodine, vitamin B12, iron and selenium. Men, however, did not get enough magnesium, zinc, thiamine (vitamin B1), niacin (vitamin B3) and vitamins A, B6 and C.
Geographical patterns were also noted. Insufficient intakes of riboflavin, folate, and vitamins B6 and B12 were particularly high in India, while deficient intakes of calcium were highest in South and East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Pacific.
“These findings are alarming,” study co-author Ty Beal, senior technical specialist at the Switzerland-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, said in the press release. “More people than previously thought, across all regions and countries of all incomes, are not getting enough of multiple essential micronutrients. These gaps compromise health and limit human potential on a global scale.”
While the findings are unique, they are in line with what other, smaller, country-specific studies have found over the years, Lauren Sastre, an assistant professor of nutrition science and director of the Farm to Clinic Program at East Carolina University in North Carolina, said in an email.
"This is a valuable study," adds Sastre, who was not involved in the research.
The problems of assessing diets worldwide
The study has several important limitations. For one, because the investigation did not include consumption of supplements and fortified foods, some of the deficiencies found may not actually be as severe if some people were consuming supplements and fortified foods that would theoretically increase their intake of certain nutrients, the authors say. However, supplementation and fortification with many of the other nutrients studied are uncommon worldwide, the authors say.
But 89 percent of people worldwide consume iodized salt, according to UNICEF . "Iodine may therefore be the only nutrient for which inadequate intake through food is largely overestimated," the authors say, referring to their findings.
"My only criticism is that they left out potassium, saying there are no standards," Sastre says. "We certainly have a recommended daily amount of potassium in the U.S., and most people aren't getting enough. And it needs to be balanced with sodium. There are people who consume too much sodium and don't get enough potassium, which is essential for blood pressure and heart health."
Furthermore, more complete information on individual dietary intakes worldwide is scarce, especially data sets that are nationally representative or that contain more than two days of intake, the researchers say. This scarcity limits the researchers’ ability to validate their estimates.
And while the team measured inadequate intakes, they didn't have data on whether these led to deficiencies that need to be diagnosed by a doctor or nutritionist based on blood tests and/or symptoms.
Nutritionists and doctors can help you determine whether you are getting enough of certain vitamins or minerals or whether you have deficiencies that can be proven through blood tests.
“Micronutrients play a critical role in cellular function, immunity and metabolism,” says Sastre. “Yet we’re not getting enough fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains – where they’re found. We need to follow the American Heart Association’s recommendation to ‘ eat the rainbow .’”
Here's a list of reasons why the seven nutrients with the lowest overall intake are important and some of the foods they're rich in:
1. Calcium
● Important for strong bones and overall health
● Found in dairy products and fortified alternatives made from soy, almond, or rice; dark green leafy vegetables; tofu; sardines; salmon; tahini; and fortified orange or grapefruit juice
2. Folate (folic acid)
● Important for red blood cell formation and cell growth and function, especially during pregnancy
● Found in dark green vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, and fortified grains such as bread, pasta, rice, and cereals.
3. Iodine
● Important for thyroid function and brain and bone development
● Found in fish, seaweed, shrimp, dairy products, eggs, and iodized salt
4. Iron
● Important for supplying the body with oxygen, as well as for growth and development
● Found in oysters, duck, beef, sardines, crab, lamb, fortified cereals, spinach, artichokes, beans, lentils, dark green leafy vegetables and potatoes
5. Magnesium
● Important for muscle and nerve function, blood sugar, blood pressure, and the production of proteins, bones, and DNA
● Found in legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals
6. Niacin (vitamin B3)
● Important for the nervous and digestive systems
● Found in beef, chicken, marinara sauce, turkey, brown rice, pumpkin seeds, salmon, and fortified cereals
7. Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
● Important for the metabolism of food for energy, im
mune system and skin and hair health
● Found in eggs, dairy products, meats, cereals and green vegetables
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