Priority micronutrient density in foods

Abstract

Background: Despite concerted efforts to improve diet quality and reduce malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies remain widespread globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries and among population groups with increased needs, where diets are often inadequate in iron, zinc, folate, vitamin A, calcium, and vitamin B12. There is a need to understand the density of these micronutrients and their bioavailability across diverse foods and the suitability of these foods to help meet requirements for populations with high burdens of micronutrient malnutrition.Objective: We aimed to identify the top food sources of these commonly lacking micronutrients, which are essential for optimal health, to support efforts to reduce micronutrient malnutrition among various populations globally.Methods: We built an aggregated global food composition database and calculated recommended nutrient intakes for five population groups with varying requirements. An approach was developed to rate foods according to their density in each and all priority micronutrients for various population groups with different nutrient requirements.Results: We find that the top sources of priority micronutrients are organs, small fish, dark green leafy vegetables, bivalves, crustaceans, beef, goat, eggs, milk, cheese, and canned fish with bones. Lamb, mutton, goat milk, and pork are also good sources, and to a lesser extent, yogurt, fresh fish, pulses, and teff.Conclusions: The results provide insight into which foods to prioritize to fill common micronutrient gaps and reduce undernutrition.

Nutrient density and cost of commonly consumed foods: a South African perspective

“…The fats, oils and foods high in fat group, and the sugar and foods and drinks high in sugar group had the highest energy density, lowest nutrient density, lowest energy cost and lowest nutrient density relative to cost. These findings are supported by literature that states that fats and sweets are the cheapest sources of energy (24,38,44,63) . Sugar consumption in South Africa exceeds the WHO recommendations of total energy intake (<10 %) (64) .…”

Priority Micronutrient Density of Foods for Complementary Feeding of Young Children (6–23 Months) in South and Southeast Asia

“…In addition, foods were categorized into four levels of zinc absorption: 44, 35, 30, and 26%, based on the amount of phytate contained in a portion equivalent to one-third of daily mass intake, assuming an energy density of 1.3 kcal/g 3 and considering average energy requirements for a moderately active woman of reproductive age (16). A similar approach was previously used to build a global food composition database [ (32); see Supplementary Material for a more detailed explanation of the approach adopted to develop the regional food composition database for South and Southeast Asia].…”

“…A similar approach was previously used to identify nutrientdense foods for infants and young children and for other population groups (7,13,32). As illustrated in the formula, each micronutrient's contribution was capped at 100% of RNIs, meaning that each micronutrient can contribute from 0% up to 50% of the overall score.…”

“…This choice was made to ensure that foods would only be rated high if they were high in at least two out of the six micronutrients included in the analysis; and to prevent foods with very high densities of individual micronutrients from rating higher for providing amounts well above recommended intakes or even above upper limits. A similar approach was previously applied to identify top food sources of priority micronutrients for other population groups (32) and used to determine micronutrient-dense complementary foods (7,13). Foods were ranked according to the following thresholds on Average Requirements (ARs) for energy from complementary foods for children 6-23 months of age and hypothetical ARs for mass, assuming an energy density of 1.3 kcal/g [obtained by averaging the minimum and maximum composite energy densities of the sample complementary feeding diets for breastfed children developed by the World Health Organization (33)]:…”

Dietary diversity and associated factors among adult cancer patients attending treatment at Black Lion Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“…While the reference date can vary, it is usually the previous day or week. DD's ratings were positively associated with increased mean dietary micronutrient density and micronutrient dietary adequacy in adults ( 16 – 18 ) .…”