The study is the first to provide estimates of insufficient consumption of 15 micronutrients in 185 countries. Image: Shutterstock
People of all age groups in India, both men and women, consume inadequate amounts of essential micronutrients for health, including iron, calcium and folate, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health journal.
The study is the first to provide estimates of insufficient consumption of 15 micronutrients in 185 countries, taken through diets without the use of supplements, according to an international team, which includes researchers from Harvard University, USA.
The results suggest that worldwide, nearly 70 percent, or more than five billion, people do not consume enough iodine, vitamin E and calcium.
The researchers also found that within a country and age group, more women consumed inadequate amounts of iodine, vitamin B12 and iron, compared to men, while more men consumed inadequate amounts of magnesium, vitamin B6, zinc and vitamin C, compared to women.
In India, while more women consumed insufficient amounts of iodine compared with men, more men consumed inadequate amounts of zinc and magnesium compared with women, the team found.
While analyses over the past 10 years have focused on micronutrient deficiencies, researchers said large data gaps remain for many micronutrients and population groups.
In this study, the authors used publicly available data from the World Dietary Database to estimate the prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake for 99.3 percent of the world’s population.
Men and women aged 10 to 30 were most likely to have low calcium intake, especially in South Asia, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the team said.
The authors said the findings could be used by public health professionals to guide populations in need of dietary interventions.
They added that because they did not account for intake of fortified foods or supplements, the results could be an overestimation of some key nutrients in certain settings where people consume large amounts of fortified foods and supplements.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 30, 2024 | 7:52 a.m. IS
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.