Key Micronutrient Deficiencies
Iron
- Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world and a main cause of anemia, a condition in which the blood contains low levels of red blood cells. (World Health Organization [WHO] website, 2006)
- Two billion people worldwide are estimated to suffer from anemia. Approximately 50 percent of all anemia can be attributed to iron deficiency. (WHO/UNICEF, Joint Statement, 2004)
- Iron deficiency causes fatigue, reduces work capacity, and weakens the immune system. Severe anemia also heightens the risk of women dying during childbirth and impairs childrens' physical growth, mental development, and learning capability. (WHO website, 2005)
- Sixty percent of pre-school children in Kenya are estimated to have iron deficiency anemia. In Ethiopia, Mali, and Mozambique, the rate exceeds 75 percent. (Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency: A Global Progress Report, UNICEF/The Micronutrient Initiative, 2004)
Vitamin A
- Vitamin A is essential for the functioning of the human immune system and can help increase resistance to disease, protect against blindness, and improve chances for survival, growth, and development. (WHO website, 2006)
- Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children. An estimated 100 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are at higher risk of going blind due to this deficiency. (FAO website, 2003; African Union, African Regional Nutritional Strategy 2005-2015, 2005)
- Close to 20 million pregnant women in developing countries are Vitamin A deficient. About one-third of them are also clinically night blind. (HarvestPlus website, 2003)
- Seventy percent of pre-school children in Kenya are estimated to be Vitamin A deficient, one of the highest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. By comparison, Vitamin A deficiency rates in Nigeria and Mozambique are 25 and 26 percent, respectively. (Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency: A Global Progress Report, UNICEF/The Micronutrient Initiative, 2004)
Zinc
- In Kenya, approximately 30,000 people are estimated to be at risk of inadequate zinc intake. ("Assessment of the Risk of Zinc Deficiency in Populations and Options for Its Control," Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 25: 2004)
- The clearest indicator of zinc deficiency is stunting in children. ("The Scourge of 'Hidden Hunger': Global Dimensions of Micronutrient Deficiencies," Food, Nutrition and Agriculture, FAO, 32: 2003)
- The human body relies on zinc to heal wounds, grow and repair body tissue, properly clot blood, and ensure sound fetal development. Severely malnourished children or those with persistent diarrhea or respiratory problems may be zinc deficient. (GAIN website, 2006)