Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Global dietary calcium and zinc deficiency risks are decreasing but remain highly prevalent, with 3.5 billion and 1.1 billion people at risk respectively in 2011, primarily in Africa and Asia.
Global food systems are currently failing to provide adequate calcium and zinc for billions, particularly in Africa and Asia. While risks are decreasing, they remain high. Individual efforts are insufficient; systemic changes like crop breeding and fortification are necessary.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Here we show that, in 2011, 3.5 and 1.1 billion people were at risk of calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) deficiency respectively due to inadequate dietary supply.
Why this rating
Large-scale global modeling using FAO data, though limited by food balance sheet proxies.
Source
Dietary calcium and zinc deficiency risks are decreasing but remain prevalent
Diriba B. Kumssa et al. · Scientific Reports · 2015
DOI 10.1038/srep10974
cross_sectionalCited 452×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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