Despite growing awareness of nutrition’s role in public health, micronutrient gaps in Europe remain a pressing issue. A recent paper in Frontiers in Nutrition highlights widespread shortfalls in essential nutrients, including folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, and the underutilized role of food supplements in addressing them.
What the Data Shows
The paper outlines several key drivers of micronutrient inadequacy:
- Modern food systems that prioritize yield over nutrient density
- Dietary shifts toward convenience and plant-based foods
- Vulnerable populations, especially children, older adults, pregnant and lactating women, and those with obesity or restrictive diets
Nutrient Deficiencies Highlighted
Across Europe, many people, especially those in vulnerable groups, are not getting enough essential nutrients like vitamins A and B12, folate, iron, calcium, iodine, magnesium, and zinc. This widespread shortfall is partly due to the declining nutrient density in commonly available foods. As a result, more individuals are turning to dietary supplements to help maintain adequate micronutrient levels and support overall health.
The Role of Food Supplements
In the paper, the author claims that maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is essential for overall health and a key part of daily self-care. However, consistently meeting all micronutrient requirements through food alone can be challenging. Daily life, dietary restrictions, and limited access to nutrient-rich foods often make it difficult to consume the right amounts of essential vitamins and minerals.
Also, simply avoiding deficiencies doesn’t always guarantee optimal health. For many individuals such as children, adolescents, older adults, and those following restrictive diets, achieving high enough levels of certain nutrients through diet alone may not be realistic.
In these cases, incorporating dietary supplements can be an effective way to fill nutritional gaps and support better health outcomes. Supplements can help ensure that vulnerable populations receive the micronutrients they need, especially when dietary intake falls short.
The author also argues that food supplements are a practical, safe, and cost-effective tool to help bridge these gaps. They call for:
- Greater integration of supplements into EU nutrition policy
- Improved training for healthcare providers on micronutrient needs
- Public awareness campaigns to support nutritional self-care
The Future of Nutritional Gaps in Europe
As the European food landscape continues to evolve, so must our strategies for maintaining nutritional adequacy. We support efforts to close micronutrient gaps in Europe through science-backed solutions that align with public health goals and individual needs.
By collaborating with researchers and industry partners, we aim to advance innovative approaches that improve nutrient intake across diverse populations. Whether through fortified foods, targeted supplementation, or educational initiatives, our commitment remains clear: to help build a healthier, more resilient world, one nutrient at a time.
Click the link below to read the full paper, and contact us to learn more about our commitment to closing the nutrition gaps.
