Volume 11 Issue 5
Selected Nutrients and Their Implications for Health and Disease across the Lifespan: A Roadmap
Szabolcs Péter,Manfred Eggersdorfer,Dieneke Van Asselt,Erik Buskens,Patrick Detzel,Karen Freijer,Berthold Koletzko,Klaus Kraemer,Folkert Kuipers,Lynnette Neufeld,Rima Obeid,Simon Wieser,Armin Zittermann andPeter Weber
1DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
2University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
3Department of Geriatric Medicine, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, 8934 AD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
4Nestlé Research Centre, Vers-chez-les Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland
5Medical Department, Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
6Department of Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), University of Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
7Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337 Munich, Germany
8Sight and Life, Wurmisweg 576, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
9Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St #5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
10Micronutrient Initiative, 180 Elgin Street, Suite 1000, K2P 2K3 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
Worldwide approximately two billion people have a diet insufficient in micronutrients. Even in the developed world, an increasing number of people consume nutrient-poor food on a regular basis. Recent surveys in Western countries consistently indicate inadequate intake of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, compared to recommendations. The International Osteoporosis Foundation’s (IOF) latest figures show that globally about 88% of the population does not have an optimal vitamin D status. The Lancet’s “Global Burden of Disease Study 2010” demonstrates a continued growth in life expectancy for populations around the world; however, the last decade of life is often disabled by the burden of partly preventable health issues. Compelling evidence suggests that improving nutrition protects health, prevents disability, boosts economic productivity and saves lives. Investments to improve nutrition make a positive contribution to long-term national and global health, economic productivity and stability, and societal resilience.
Keywords: healthy ageing; global health; nutrition economics; undernutrition