Micronutrient Malnutrition: Not Limited to Developing Nations

Vitamin and mineral deficiency can lead to detrimental health impacts and chronic diseases. It is often referred to as "hidden hunger." While the human body may only require micronutrients in small doses, they are crucial building blocks for metabolism, growth, and development. Health organizations have been reporting on micronutrient malnutrition for decades. This includes deficiencies in iodine, iron, folate, vitamin A, and zinc, which have devastating consequences for billions of people worldwide. Research shows that micronutrient deficiencies are not limited to developing nations.

Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) suggests that micronutrient malnutrition is common in the United States, with an estimated 31% of the population at risk of developing one or more micronutrient deficiencies. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, only one in ten adults in the US meets the daily recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake.

When someone’s habitual diet consists of foods that lack necessary levels of micronutrients, the resulting health impacts may not always be acutely visible. Studies indicate that low magnesium intake has been associated with a greater risk for several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, depression, and decreased cognition. Magnesium can be consumed through a variety of foods from greens to whole grains, yet in the US it is under-consumed.

The generally high-calorie, low-nutrient quality of the Western-type diet, comprised of more processed foods and fewer vegetables, is one important component of this nutritional deficit. Analyses of surveys suggest that certain subpopulations in the US are more vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies. These include:

• Individuals with low-nutrient diets or on restrictive diets
• People of low socioeconomic status or those experiencing food insecurity
• Women, particularly those of child-bearing age
• African Americans
• Older adults
• Individuals with certain medical conditions or disease states

Additionally, long-term use of medications may also interfere with the body’s ability to absorb, and therefore benefit from, the nutrients found in foods. 

The functional medicine model approach prioritizes a comprehensive view of a patient’s historical and current conditions, including nutrition intake and dietary patterns, to determine appropriate interventions for each patient.