According to a study published in the Lancet Global Health Journal, people in India, both men and women, do not consume enough micronutrients like iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and folate. The study identified the inadequate micronutrient intake among men and women separately.
Though studies assessed the global micronutrient deficiencies and supply over the past 10 years, there was this huge gap in available data that informs the inadequate micronutrient intake. This study claims to be the first to bridge this gap.
This study estimated the inadequate intake of 15 micronutrients through diet without including supplements across 185 countries, according to a research team from Harvard University, United States. They studied these estimates in 34 groups differentiated by age and sex, covering over 99/3% of the global population.
The findings are:
More than 5 billion people do not consume enough of each of three nutrients: iodine, vitamin E, and calcium.
More than 4 billion people do not consume enough of each of these four nutrients: iron, riboflavin, folate, and vitamin C.
Women had a higher inadequate intake of iodine, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, calcium, riboflavin, and folate than men.
Men have higher intake inadequacies for magnesium, vitamin B6, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A, thiamin, and niacin than women.
In India, inadequate intakes of calcium, riboflavin, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 were high, especially among people of 10–30 years of age. Women have a higher inadequacy of intake of iodine and vitamin B12. Men have a higher inadequacy of intake of micronutrients like magnesium and zinc.
However, the research team believes that these numbers can be a little overexaggerated as they didn't include the intake of supplements and fortified food by the population.
Micronutrients are important for body mechanisms like metabolism, bone health, disease prevention, and general well-being for both men and women. These deficiencies are more pronounced in women. A woman's requirement for these micronutrients is increased in different stages of her life, like adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause. However, this micronutrient deficiency is often overlooked.
Despite being frequently overlooked, micronutrients are critical to the general health and wellbeing of women. Indian women can ensure adequate micronutrient intake by prioritising whole foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and nuts and seeds. Cooking with healthy oils like mustard oil, olive oil, or coconut oil can also contribute to a balanced diet. Limiting processed foods, which are often high in unhealthy fats, sodium, and added sugars, is essential.Kanikka Malhotra, consultant dietician and certified diabetes educator
Here is a list of common essential micronutrients and their functions in the body [4,5,6]:
| Micronutients | Function |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Vision, immune function, skin health |
| Vitamin C | Antioxidant, aids in collagen production, supports the immune system, and enhances iron absorption |
| Vitamin D | Regulates calcium and phosphorus levels, supports bone health, and boosts immune function |
| Vitamin E | Acts as an antioxidant, protects cells from oxidative stress |
| Calcium | Bone and teeth health, muscle function, nerve transmission, and blood clotting |
| Iron | Formation of hemoglobin (red blood cells), oxygen transport in the blood |
| Magnesium | Muscle and nerve function, regulates blood pressure, and supports immune system |
| Zinc | Immune function, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division |
| Selenium | Antioxidant, supports thyroid function, and immune system |
| Iodine | Essential for thyroid hormone production, regulates metabolism |
| Folic Acid | DNA synthesis, cell division, and important during pregnancy to prevent birth defects |
| Vitamin B12 | Red blood cell formation, brain function, and DNA synthesis |
It is important to have an adequate intake of micronutrients for maintaining healthy body functions. Dietary sources are the primary way to address this inadequacy. People should be aware of the importance of these micronutrients and educated about the various sources of food that can help them meet their needs. Here is a chart of various sources of important micronutrients:
| Micronutrient | Sources |
|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 | Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products (milk, curd, paneer) ,fortified cereals. |
| Folate (Vitamin B9) | Green leafy vegetables, pulses, oranges, mangoes |
| Iodine | Iodized salt, dairy products (curd, milk), fish |
| Iron | Red meat, poultry, seafood, beans, lentils, spinach, chickpeas, jaggery, bajra (pearl millet) |
| Selenium | Whole grains (wheat, bajra), eggs, nuts (especially walnuts), mushrooms |
| Calcium | Dairy products (milk, curd, paneer), ragi (finger millet), sesame seeds (til), almonds |
| Vitamin D | Fortified dairy products, eggs, mushrooms, sunlight exposure |
| Magnesium | Green leafy vegetables (spinach, amaranth), nuts (almonds, cashews), seeds (pumpkin seeds), whole grains (wheat, rice, jowar) |
| Zinc | Lentils (moong dal, toor dal), chickpeas (chole), whole grains (wheat, rice), nuts (cashews, almonds), dairy products |
This information about inadequate micronutrient consumption can help public health personnel and practitioners focus on helping the group of populations who need intervention.
References:
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/micronutrients-women-nutrition-diet-health-deficiency-9544407/
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/lancet-study-estimates-indians-deficient-iron-calcium-folate-9542661/
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(24)00276-6/fulltext
https://blog.nasm.org/micronutrients
https://www.nin.res.in/ebooks/Micronutrients.pdf
https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/upload_documents/DGI_07th_May_2024_fin.pdf
(Input from various sources)
Rehash/Dr. Shanjitha J Hussain