Young women significantly deficient in key micronutrients
A study has suggested that diet and lifestyle trends promoted on social media are responsible for significant nutrient deficiencies in young women. Researchers at Frontiers in Nutrition found that young UK women are particularly vulnerable to micronutrient shortages, after they sought to evaluate micronutrient intakes across different age groups.
Intakes of vitamin B6, B12, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and iodine were found to be significantly lower in women than men in general (aged 20-59). However, men were found to have significantly lower vitamin A and zinc intakes from food than women.
The researchers conducted a secondary analysis of the annual UK National Diet and Nutrition Surveys from 2008 to 2014 and derived micronutrient intakes from food sources as a percentage of the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) and percentage below the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI). Data from 3,238 adults was analysed.
Both women and men in their 20s were found to have low levels of magnesium, with 19% displaying levels below the LRNI, while intakes of vitamin A, riboflavin, folic acid, calcium, potassium iodine and copper were also found to be comparably lower than adults in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
The study referenced a recent survey of 1,035 tweets by young adults which found that 67.2% related to body image, eating disorders, fitness, food or dieting, and suggested that this type of content has ramifications on the dietary habits and micronutrient profiles of young women.
