Topic of the Month
The role of micronutrients at all stages of life
5 December 2016
Micronutrients – we all need them, our whole life. But which ones are important for different age groups?
12 November 2013
A new analysis of dietary micronutrient intake data from eight European countries suggests that many men and women across all age groups do not consume sufficient B vitamins, vitamin D, iron, calcium and zinc.
The analysis included the latest data from national dietary surveys from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Spain, and compared them with recommended intakes (1). The study results showed that there was a great prevalence of insufficient intakes of various micronutrients – especially vitamin D, vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 and folic acid, as well as iron, calcium and zinc – across all sex and age groups.
The researchers commented that the findings increase knowledge of micronutrient inadequacy in Europe and are a valuable resource for assessing the state of populations. The results confirmed earlier data from national surveys, such as a dietary survey by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), which observed insufficient intakes of vitamin A, vitamin D and folic acid, as well as zinc and iron (2). Only 43% of the population ate vegetables daily, and the average amount of fruit consumed was less than three pieces per day. The scientists concluded that the modern Spanish diet is a western-type diet that is further and further removed from the typical Mediterranean diet.
5 December 2016
Micronutrients – we all need them, our whole life. But which ones are important for different age groups?
30 March 2016
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, EPIC, was designed to investigate the relationships between diet, nutritional status, lifestyle and environmental factors, and the incidence of cancer and other chronic diseases. Detailed information on diet and lifestyle was obtained by questionnaire, anthropometric measurements (e.g., weight, height, and fat distribution), and blood samples.
21 October 2015
Only a few studies have been carried out to assess the effect of blood serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and the risk of cervical cancer. The findings from these studies were inconsistent. However, a new study conducted with 1,200 participants from the city of Harbin, in Northern China, has yielded promising results, indicating that alpha carotene, beta carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C could be beneficial in reducing the risk of cervical cancer in Chinese women. The effect was particularly noticeable in women who suffered from the effects of passive smoking.