Sep 06, 2024
Chris Free, a research professor at UCSB and co-lead author of the study, described the research as a major advancement. IIOur study not only estimates inadequate micronutrient intake for 34 different age-sex groups in nearly every country, but it also makes the methods and results accessible to other researchers and practitioners.”
New Delhi: A new study has highlighted a major global health issue: millions of people around the world are not getting enough essential vitamins and minerals from their diets. Researchers from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) conducted a comprehensive analysis to uncover the extent of micronutrient deficiencies.
Published in The Lancet Global Health on August 29, this study is the first of its kind to estimate the global inadequacy of 15 critical micronutrients. The study reveals that over half of the global population is falling short on key nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E.
Chris Free, a research professor at UCSB and co-lead author of the study, described the research as a major advancement. “Our study not only estimates inadequate micronutrient intake for 34 different age-sex groups in nearly every country, but it also makes the methods and results accessible to other researchers and practitioners.”
The researchers analysed data from multiple sources, including the Global Dietary Database, the World Bank, and dietary surveys from 31 countries. They examined nutritional intake across 185 countries, breaking down the data into 17 different age groups, from zero to 80 years old, plus an 80+ category. The study looked at 15 essential vitamins and minerals: calcium, iodine, iron, riboflavin, folate, zinc, magnesium, selenium, thiamin, niacin, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and E.
The findings were concerning. Nearly all of the micronutrients studied were found to be inadequately consumed by a significant poltion of the population. Iodine was particularly deficient, affecting 68 per cent of people globally, followed by vitamin E (67 per cent), calcium (66 per cent), and iron (65 oer cent). Other nutrients like riboflavin, folate, and vitamins C and B6 also showed high rates of inadequate intake. Niacin was the closest to adequate levels, with 22 per cent of the population falling sh01T, while thiamin and selenium showed deficiencies in 30 per cent and 37 per cent of people, respectively.
Source: Economic Times