Most of the world isn’t getting enough of key nutrients: study

We are getting an F for vitamin intake.

More than half the world consumes insufficient amounts of micronutrients that are essential for health, including calcium, iron and vitamins C and E, a new study finds.

“These results are alarming,” said Ty Beal, senior technical specialist at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), which conducted the research with the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and UC Santa Barbara (UCSB).

“Most people — even more than previously thought, in all regions and countries of all incomes — are not consuming enough essential micronutrients,” Beal added. “These gaps compromise health outcomes and limit human potential on a global scale.”

The researchers used dietary data to estimate the global intake of 15 key micronutrients – calcium, iodine, iron, riboflavin, folate, zinc, magnesium, selenium, thiamin, niacin and vitamins A, B6, B12, C and E.

They determined that 68% of the population is not getting enough iodine (present in seafood, eggs and milk and needed to produce thyroid hormones). Inadequate intake was also found for vitamin E (67% of the population), calcium (66%) and iron (65%).

Calcium intake was significantly lower in North America, Europe and Central Asia.

More than half of the global population is also not getting enough riboflavin, folate, and vitamins C and B6.

Intake of niacin was close to adequate, with only 22% of the population consuming insufficient amounts, followed by thiamin (30%) and selenium (37%).

The study found that women scored worse than men for iodine, vitamin B12, iron and selenium, while men struggle with getting enough calcium, niacin, thiamin, zinc, magnesium and vitamins A, C and B6.

The results were published Thursday in The Lancet Global Health.

“Our study is a big step forward,” said co-author Chris Free, a UCSB research professor. “Not only because it is the first to estimate inadequate micronutrient intakes for 34 sex-age groups in nearly every country, but also because it makes these methods and results easily accessible to researchers and practitioners.”

Micronutrient deficiencies can cause fatigue, bone pain, hair loss and weakness – if you notice these signs, consult a doctor about your diet and supplements.