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.
30 August 2016
The quality of nutrition during the first 1,000 days - the period between conception and the child’s second birthday – are crucial for health and development along the life cycle.
16 July 2013
According to a new review daily supplementation with iron during pregnancy reduces the risk of maternal anemia and low birth weight babies.
16 April 2012
According to a new study from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, blood vitamin D concentrations in adult Saudis are higher during the winter than the summer.
