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. 2015 Jun 22:5:10974.
doi: 10.1038/srep10974.

Dietary calcium and zinc deficiency risks are decreasing but remain prevalent

Diriba B Kumssa  1 , Edward J M Joy  2 , E Louise Ander  3 , Michael J Watts  3 , Scott D Young  4 , Sue Walker  5 , Martin R Broadley  4
Affiliations

Dietary calcium and zinc deficiency risks are decreasing but remain prevalent

Diriba B Kumssa et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Globally, more than 800 million people are undernourished while >2 billion people have one or more chronic micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs). More than 6% of global mortality and morbidity burdens are associated with undernourishment and MNDs. Here we show that, in 2011, 3.5 and 1.1 billion people were at risk of calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) deficiency respectively due to inadequate dietary supply. The global mean dietary supply of Ca and Zn in 2011 was 684 ± 211 and 16 ± 3 mg capita(-1) d(-1) (± SD) respectively. Between 1992 and 2011, global risk of deficiency of Ca and Zn decreased from 76 to 51%, and 22 to 16%, respectively. Approximately 90% of those at risk of Ca and Zn deficiency in 2011 were in Africa and Asia. To our knowledge, these are the first global estimates of dietary Ca deficiency risks based on food supply. We conclude that continuing to reduce Ca and Zn deficiency risks through dietary diversification and food and agricultural interventions including fortification, crop breeding and use of micronutrient fertilisers will remain a significant challenge.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Ca supply (mg capita−1 d−1) and deficiency risk (%).
Calcium supply in 1992 (a) and 2011 (c). Calcium deficiency risk in 1992 (b) and 2011 (d). Country boundaries were downloaded from the GADM Global Administrative Areas database (http://gadm.org/, Version 2, January 2012). Thematic mapping of Ca supply and deficiency risk was carried out in ArcGIS 10.2.1.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Regional temporal trends in population-weighted mean Ca supply (mg capita−1 d−1) and deficiency risk (%) between 1992 and 2011.
The horizontal broken lines represent the average WtdEAR for Ca. Line graphs were drawn using Tableau Software for Desktop version 8.2.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Zn supply (mg capita−1 d−1) and deficiency risk (%).
Zinc supply in 1992 (a) and 2011 (c). Zinc deficiency risk in 1992 (b) and 2011 (d). Country boundaries were downloaded from the GADM Global Administrative Areas database (http://gadm.org/, Version 2, January 2012). Thematic mapping of Zn supply and deficiency risk was carried out in ArcGIS 10.2.1.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Regional temporal trends in population-weighted mean Zn supply (mg capita−1 d−1) and deficiency risk (%) between 1992 and 2011.
The horizontal broken lines represent the average WtdEAR for Zn. Line graphs were drawn using Tableau Software for Desktop version 8.2.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Phytate:Zn (PA:Zn) molar ratio in 1992 (a) and 2011 (b), based on per capita PA and Zn supplies. Country boundaries were downloaded from the GADM Global Administrative Areas database (http://gadm.org/, Version 2, January 2012). Thematic mapping of PA:Zn ratio was carried out in ArcGIS 10.2.1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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