What to know
Micronutrients, often referred to as vitamins and minerals, are vital to healthy development, growth, disease prevention, and well-being. Here are six essential micronutrients and why they are important to our health.
Overview
With the exception of vitamin D, micronutrients are not produced in the body. People must get them from their diet.
We only need small amounts of micronutrients. However, getting the recommended amount is important for health. Micronutrient deficiencies can have devastating consequences. At least half of children worldwide under 5 years old suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The World Health Organization recommends multiple interventions to address nutrition deficiencies.
Iron
Iron is important for motor development and helps develop the brain of a fetus and child. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the consequences of iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia. Anemia is defined as low hemoglobin concentration. Globally, anemia affects 40% of children younger than 5 years old, and 30% of pregnant women.
Anemia during pregnancy increases the risk of death for the mother and baby. Worldwide, maternal and neonatal deaths total between 2.5 million and 3.4 million each year. Additionally, anemia during pregnancy increases the risk of poor fetal growth, preterm birth, or low birth weight for the infant.
Babies have different needs when it comes to iron depending on what they are fed (only breast milk, only formula, or a mix of breast milk and formula).
In addition, iron deficiency limits physical productivity and work capacity.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports healthy eyesight and immune system functions. Children with vitamin A deficiency face an increased risk of blindness and death from infections such as measles and diarrhea.
Globally, vitamin A deficiency affects an estimated 190 million preschool-age children.
Providing vitamin A supplements to children ages 6 months up to 5 years is effective in reducing deaths from causes related to vitamin A deficiency.
Vitamin D
Bodies make vitamin D from sunlight, but this varies based on geography, skin color, air pollution, and other factors. Also, sunlight exposure needs to be limited to avoid risk of skin cancer.
All children need vitamin D beginning shortly after birth.
Vitamin D helps the immune system resist bacteria and viruses.
Vitamin D is required for muscle and nerve functions.
Vitamin D builds strong bones by helping the body absorb calcium.This helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.
Vitamin D deficiency causes bone diseases, including rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Available data suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be widespread globally.
Iodine
Iodine is required during pregnancy and infancy for the infant’s healthy growth and cognitive development.
Iodine content in most foods and beverages is low. Globally, an estimated 1.8 billion people have insufficient iodine intake.
Fortifying salt with iodine is a successful way to help people get enough iodine. About 86% of households worldwide use iodized salt. The amount of iodine added to salt can be increased or decreased. This means that people can get enough iodine in their diet even if they eat less salt.
Experts recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women take a daily supplement with 150 micrograms of iodine. Women who are planning to become pregnant should take a daily iodine supplement at least 3 months before pregnancy.
Folate
Everyone needs folate (vitamin B9) to make new cells every day.
Folate is essential in the earliest days of fetal growth for healthy development of the brain and spine. Folic acid is another form of vitamin B9. Women of reproductive age need 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.
Ensuring women get enough folate before getting pregnant can reduce neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly.
Some ways to make sure women 15 to 49 get enough folic acid are providing supplements and fortifying foods such as wheat flour. These interventions reduce cases of neural tube defects and can help prevent neonatal deaths.
Zinc
Zinc promotes immune functions and helps people resist infectious diseases including diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. Zinc is also needed for healthy pregnancies.
Globally, 17.3% of the population is at risk for zinc deficiency due to dietary inadequacy. Up to 30% of people are at risk in some regions of the world.
Providing zinc supplements:
- Reduces the incidence of premature birth.
- Decreases childhood diarrhea and respiratory infections.
- Lowers the number of deaths from all causes.
- Increases growth and weight gain among infants and young children.
Providing zinc supplements to children younger than 5 years appears to be a highly cost-effective intervention in low- and middle-income countries.
When children are about 6 months old, it is important to start giving them foods with zinc.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/features/micronutrient-facts.html
