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A groundbreaking study published in The Lancet Global Health reveals that over half of the global population is not consuming sufficient amounts of seven essential nutrients, posing significant health risks.
The research, led by Dr. Christopher Free, a researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Ty Beal, a senior technical specialist at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition in Switzerland, analyzed the intake of 15 micronutrients across 185 countries, representing 99.3% of the world’s population.
The study found that more than 5 billion individuals lack adequate intake of iodine, vitamin E, and calcium, while over 4 billion people fall short in their consumption of iron, folate, and vitamins C and B12. These deficiencies were found to be more prevalent in certain regions and demographic groups.
Previous research has examined global deficiencies in micronutrients or the lack of food sources rich in these nutrients, but this study is the first to provide comprehensive global estimates of inadequate intake based on nutritional standards.
The study has several limitations, including not accounting for the consumption of dietary supplements or fortified foods, which could potentially alleviate some of the identified inadequacies. Additionally, the scarcity of comprehensive individual dietary intake data worldwide restricts researchers’ ability to validate the modeled estimates.
Despite these limitations, the research corroborates findings from smaller, country-specific studies conducted over the years, according to Dr. Lauren Sastre, a professor at East Carolina University.
The findings underscore the urgent need for improved access to nutrient-rich foods and targeted interventions to address global micronutrient deficiencies. This study provides valuable insights for researchers and policymakers to develop strategies that promote better nutrition worldwide.
Citations:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37898436/
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953616301848
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10684707/
[4] https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/11/health/global-nutrient-intake-study-wellness/index.html
[5] https://globaldietarydatabase.org
[6] https://globalnutritionreport.org/reports/2021-global-nutrition-report/
[7] https://www.who.int/activities/establishing-global-nutrient-requirements
[8] https://globalnutritionreport.org
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