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Harvard, UCSB, and GAIN Study Highlights Global Nutritional Deficiencies Across 185 Countries
A staggering portion of the global population is not consuming adequate levels of essential micronutrients, according to a groundbreaking study published in The Lancet Global Health. Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) found that more than half of the world’s population is deficient in key nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E.
This study is the first to provide comprehensive global estimates of inadequate intake for 15 critical micronutrients, analyzing data from 185 countries. Utilizing sources like the Global Dietary Database, the World Bank, and dietary recall surveys from 31 countries, the researchers evaluated nutrient intake across 34 age-sex groups, ranging from infants to the elderly. The study’s findings reveal widespread deficiencies, with significant health implications.
“Micronutrient deficiencies are among the most prevalent forms of malnutrition worldwide,” said Chris Free, co-lead author and research professor at UCSB. “Our study is a significant step forward, not only because it provides the first estimates of inadequate intakes for numerous age-sex groups globally, but also because it makes this information readily accessible to researchers and health practitioners.”
Alarming Deficiency Rates Across the Globe
The study assessed the intake of micronutrients such as calcium, iodine, iron, riboflavin, folate, zinc, magnesium, selenium, thiamin, niacin, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and E. The results are concerning: 68% of the global population consumes inadequate levels of iodine, 67% lack sufficient vitamin E, 66% fall short on calcium, and 65% are deficient in iron. More than half of the population is also not getting enough riboflavin, folate, or vitamins C and B6.
The findings also highlighted differences in deficiency patterns based on gender and age. Women, for instance, were more likely than men to consume inadequate levels of iodine, vitamin B12, iron, and selenium. Conversely, men showed higher rates of inadequacy for calcium, niacin, thiamin, zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and B6.
Adolescents and young adults, particularly those aged 10–30, were identified as the most vulnerable to calcium deficiency, with the highest inadequacies observed in South and East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and to a lesser extent, North America, Europe, and Central Asia.
Global Health Implications
“These results are alarming,” said Ty Beal, senior technical specialist at GAIN. “The extent of micronutrient inadequacies is even greater than previously thought, affecting populations in every region and income level. This widespread deficiency compromises health outcomes and limits human potential on a global scale.”
Micronutrient deficiencies can lead to severe health consequences, including adverse pregnancy outcomes, blindness, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial for improving global health outcomes.
Opportunities for Intervention
While the study underscores the magnitude of the public health challenge, it also presents an opportunity for targeted interventions. “Practitioners and policymakers can use this data to identify the most effective dietary interventions and direct them to the populations most in need,” said Christopher Golden, senior author and associate professor of nutrition and planetary health at Harvard Chan School.
The researchers noted that a lack of data on individual dietary intake, especially in low- and middle-income countries, may have limited the study’s findings. However, by making their data and analysis methods freely available, the researchers hope to encourage further investigation and action.
More information:
Global estimation of dietary micronutrient inadequacies: a modeling analysis, The Lancet Global Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00276-6
