Hidden Hunger: deficiency of vitamins & minerals can be harmful

When vitamin and mineral intake and absorption are insufficient to maintain good health, it is said to be undernourished, which is known as hidden hunger. It is dependent more on the type of food consumed than the quantity. Micronutrients are a broad category of vitamins and minerals needed for continued growth and development1. One in three people worldwide, or more than 2 billion people, suffer from it. Its terrible effects can lead to mental damage, poor health, low productivity, and even death. Its detrimental effects on children's health and survival are particularly severe, especially during the first 1,000 days of a child's life, from conception to age two, with serious physical and cognitive repercussions. Even mild to moderate deficiencies can impact a person's well-being and development. Especially in low- and middle-income nations, hidden hunger can impede socioeconomic development in addition to having an adverse impact on people's health2 .

Micronutrients deficiency and its health impact3,4:

Numerous serious health issues can result from micronutrient deficiencies. Anaemia can be caused by a deficiency in iron, folate, and vitamins B12 and vitamin A. Anaemia is characterized by a decrease in haemoglobin concentration or the number of red blood cells, which results in weakness, weakness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. This may make it more difficult to function in your work, education, and community involvement activities. Worldwide, anemia affects 40% of expectant mothers and 42% of children under the age of 5.

Vitamin A deficiency is the main contributor to preventable childhood blindness and increases the risk of illness and death from serious infections like diarrheal disease and measles. In high-risk areas, vitamin A deficiency can also affect women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Between the ages of 6 and 59 months, both infants and young children should take vitamin A supplements, which is advised in areas where vitamin A deficiency is a public health issue. Breastfeeding is the best way to prevent vitamin A deficiency in infants.

Some micronutrient deficiencies can be the basis of chronic diseases. Magnesium, for instance, can be found in many foods, including whole grains and greens, yet Americans consume too little of it. Studies show a link between low magnesium intake and an increased risk of a number of chronic illnesses, including depression, impaired cognition, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Along with harming the developing brain, severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can cause stillbirths, spontaneous abortions, and congenital anomalies. Iodine deficiency of lesser severity may still result in mental impairment that lowers intellectual capacity. Universal salt iodization, which mandates that all food-grade salt used in cooking and food processing be fortified with iodine, is still the preferred method for controlling iodine deficiency. 66% of households worldwide, according to UNICEF, have access to iodized salt.

Population at risk4:

One significant contributing factor to this problem is the typical Western diet's high calorie, low nutrient density composition, which includes fewer vegetables and more processed foods. Additionally, survey analysis suggests that the following US populations may have greater micronutrient needs or are more susceptible to micronutrient deficiencies5:

Long-term medication users may also have difficulty absorbing and benefiting from the nutrients found in food. Micronutrients like magnesium, calcium, vitamin B (including B12 and folate), potassium, and zinc are the most frequently mentioned as possible drug-nutrient depletions associated with commonly prescribed medications6.

Strategies to overcome hidden hunger1,7:

In order to determine the root cause of many chronic symptoms and diseases, evaluation of vitamin deficiencies during clinical evaluation is a crucial first step. Correcting one or more of these deficiencies has the potential to partially or completely solve a wide range of health issues because cells require micronutrients. Supplementation, adopting new eating practices, and meal planning are a few examples of individualized nutrition strategies. In order to choose the best interventions for each individual patient, the functional medicine approach adopts a framework that prioritizes a thorough perspective of a patient's past and present conditions, including nutrition intake and dietary patterns. In order to fully incorporate the patient in their treatment plan and support them on their path to wellness, the functional medicine approach also places a strong emphasis on the relationship between the practitioner and the patient.

Refrance

  1. On how to overcome ‘hidden hunger’. Deccan Herald Learn more (2017).
  2. Lastname, F. Addressing the Challenge of Hidden Hunger. Learn more.
  3. Micronutrients. Learn more.
  4. The Hidden Hunger: Micronutrient Deficiencies | The Institute for Functional Medicine. Learn more.
  5. Subpopulations at Risk for Micronutrient Inadequacy or Deficiency. Linus Pauling Institute Learn more (2018).
  6. Mohn, E. S., Kern, H. J., Saltzman, E., Mitmesser, S. H. & McKay, D. L. Evidence of Drug–Nutrient Interactions with Chronic Use of Commonly Prescribed Medications: An Update. Pharmaceutics 10, 36 (2018).
  7. Hidden hunger affects nearly 2 billion worldwide – are solutions in plain sight? Learn more.