Most of the world isn’t getting enough of these nutrients: ‘alarming’ research

We’re getting an F for vitamin intake.

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

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

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

The researchers used dietary data to estimate global consumption 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 world’s population isn’t getting enough iodine (present in seafood, eggs and milk and needed to make thyroid hormones). Inadequate intake was also found for vitamin E (67% of the population), calcium (66%) and iron (65%).

Calcium consumption was notably low across North America, Europe and Central Asia.

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

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

Women posted worse numbers than men for iodine, vitamin B12, iron and selenium, while men struggle with consuming enough calcium, niacin, thiamin, zinc, magnesium and vitamins A, C and B6, the study found.

The results were published Thursday in the Lancet Global Health.

“Our study is a big step forward,” said co-lead author Chris Free, a UCSB research professor. “Not only because it is the first to estimate inadequate micronutrient intakes for 34 age-sex 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 with a doctor about your diet and supplementation.