A new study has found that more than half of the world’s population is not getting enough of the essential vitamins and minerals needed for good health.
Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) discovered that billions of people worldwide are consuming inadequate levels of key micronutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E.
This is the first study to provide a global overview of the lack of 15 crucial micronutrients.
Micronutrient deficiencies are one of the most widespread forms of malnutrition.
Each deficiency can lead to serious health problems, including poor pregnancy outcomes, blindness, and a higher risk of infections.
While previous research has looked at how much of these nutrients are available and consumed, this study goes further by evaluating whether people are meeting the recommended levels for good health.
It also highlights the specific challenges faced by both men and women at different stages of life.
“This study is a major advancement,” said Chris Free, a research professor at UCSB and co-lead author.
“It’s the first to estimate inadequate micronutrient intake for 34 different age and sex groups in nearly every country. Plus, we’ve made our methods and results freely available for others to use.”
The researchers analyzed data from sources like the Global Dietary Database, the World Bank, and dietary surveys from 31 countries.
They compared the nutritional needs with the actual intake of people in 185 countries, focusing on 15 vitamins and minerals including calcium, iodine, iron, and vitamins A, C, and E.
The findings were concerning: nearly all the micronutrients studied showed significant intake gaps worldwide. The most widespread deficiencies were iodine (68% of the global population), vitamin E (67%), calcium (66%), and iron (65%). Over half of the population also lacked adequate levels of riboflavin, folate, and vitamins C and B6.
Only niacin showed relatively better levels, with 22% of the global population not getting enough.
Women were found to be more likely to have inadequate levels of iodine, vitamin B12, iron, and selenium compared to men in the same country and age group.
On the other hand, more men were deficient in calcium, niacin, thiamin, zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and B6. The study also noted that young people aged 10-30, especially in South and East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, were particularly prone to low calcium intake.
“These results are alarming,” said Ty Beal, a senior technical specialist at GAIN. “More people than we previously thought are not consuming enough essential micronutrients, no matter where they live or how much money they have. This is a global health crisis.”
The study highlights the need for urgent action to improve diets and address these nutrient gaps, which are limiting people’s health and potential on a global scale.
While the study faced challenges due to limited data on individual dietary intake, it provides a crucial foundation for future efforts to combat micronutrient deficiencies and improve global health.
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