A balanced diet is essential for growth, immunity, and overall health, yet many people are falling short on crucial vitamins and minerals. A recent study conducted by Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) highlights significant global deficiencies in key nutrients.
The study, published in The Lancet Global Health on August 29, is the first to offer global estimates of inadequate consumption for 15 vital micronutrients. It reveals that over half of the global population lacks sufficient levels of several important micronutrients, including calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E.
Co-lead author Chris Free, a research professor at UCSB, emphasizes the importance of this study, noting its groundbreaking approach. “Our study is a significant advancement,” Free said. “It provides global estimates for nearly every country and makes the data and methods accessible to researchers and practitioners.”
Researchers utilized data from the Global Dietary Database, the World Bank, and dietary recall surveys in 31 countries. They assessed nutritional intake across 185 countries, focusing on 15 micronutrients: calcium, iodine, iron, riboflavin, folate, zinc, magnesium, selenium, thiamin, niacin, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and E.
The study found widespread inadequacies in micronutrient intake, with notable deficiencies in iodine (68% of the global population), vitamin E (67%), calcium (66%), and iron (65%). More than half of people also consumed insufficient levels of riboflavin, folate, and vitamins C and B6.
Niacin levels were relatively closer to adequate, with only 22% of the global population deficient, followed by thiamin at 30% and selenium at 37%. The study excluded fortification as a potential source of additional nutrients, focusing solely on dietary intake.
This comprehensive assessment is divided into 34 age-sex groups across nearly every country, providing detailed insights into global nutrition. The researchers have made their data and analysis code freely available to support further research and intervention efforts.
The findings underscore the urgent need for improved dietary intake and public health strategies to address these widespread nutrient deficiencies.
