Causes of Deficiency and Importance of Supplementation

Causes

Biochemical individuality

As each of us are metabolically and biochemically unique, the micronutrient requirement for one person is quite different than the requirement of another.


Absorption

Often times the dietary nutrients are not absorbed by the body properly resulting in the deficiency of the same.

Aging

Ageing increases oxidative stress in the body and reduces nutrient absorption as a natural process. Thus requirement for antioxidants and B vitamins like B12 increases automatically as a person ages.

Lifestyle

Excessive physical activity, prescription drugs, smoking, alcohol, unhealthy food intake, contaminated soil, excessive processing, cooking, storage and sedentary habits impact micronutrient demands. Vegetarians are most likely to fall short of vitamin B12, a heart protective vitamin. Most people globally are deficient in vitamin D, magnesium and calcium, because of improper dietary intake and inadequate exposure to sun. People are highly deficient in their antioxidant supply despite increasing stress and bodily demands. Such micronutrient and antioxidant deficiencies do not show major symptoms and largely go undetected.

Over a period of time these deficiencies could lead to mental impairment and degenerative conditions.

Quality of food

In an ideal world we wouldn't need any supplements. But the world is far from ideal now. The soil is contaminated and highly depleted of nutrients.

• Five major minerals (calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphorous and potassium) and at least sixteen trace minerals are essential for optimal health. Plants cannot create minerals and have to absorb them from the soil. And today our soils don't have these minerals and so the plants don't have them either.
• Organic fertilizers which contain these minerals are expensive and difficult to procure. So the farmers use chemical fertilizers that grow healthy grains but are deficient in necessary minerals.
• The nutrient content of hybrid produce is lesser than the naturally growing one's.
• Storage and transportation, early picking of fruits and vegetables, cold storage, preservation methods, processing, overcooking, freezing, refrigeration of food are all the collective reasons for the loss in nutrients.

Last but not the least it is the deteriorating consumption of wholesome food which is the major cause of micronutrient deficiencies. Even though physicians and dieticians recommend the consumption of multiple servings of fruits and vegetables daily, our society consumes way below the recommendations.

Rujuta Diwekar in her book "Don't lose your mind, lose your weight" sticks to the basics of vitamin and mineral supplements being no replacement to healthy eating. But also adds that when a baseline diet is in place, workout is regular and one has a positive outlook towards life, food supplements will help them work at their best and would add great value.

References:

1. Spectracell Laboratories � Advanced clinical testing
2. Srand, R.D. �What your doctor doesn�t know about nutritional medicine may be killing you�
3. Recommended Dietary Allowances, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 2010.
4. Diwekar, R. �Don�t lose your mind, lose your weight�.
5. Dietary Reference Intakes, 2010.

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