Micronutrients & recovery
Dietary zinc deficiency risk in Africa is high (40% population at risk) primarily due to low bioavailability caused by high phytate intake from cereal-based diets, but this risk can be reduced by 90% through biofortified breeding targets.
If you live in a region where diets are heavily based on cereals like maize, you are at high risk for zinc deficiency due to phytates blocking absorption. Supporting or consuming biofortified crops (like those bred by HARVESTPLUS) is a highly effective strategy to reduce this risk by up to 90%. Diversifying your diet with animal products or fortified foods is also necessary.
The mean estimated risk of Zn deficiency was 40%... meeting HARVESTPLUS breeding targets for Zn would reduce dietary Zn deficiency risk by 90% based on supply data.
Why this rating
Based on Food Balance Sheets (FBS) and food composition data, which are proxy measures and subject to assumptions about bioavailability and distribution.
Source
Dietary mineral supplies in Africa
Edward J. M. Joy et al. · Physiologia Plantarum · 2013
DOI 10.1111/ppl.12144
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- Calcium deficiency is the most widespread micronutrient deficiency in Africa (affecting 54% of the population), primarily driven by low intake of calcium-rich animal products and high phytate interference.Moderate
- Iron deficiency risk in Africa is estimated at only 5% based on standard bioavailability assumptions, but this estimate rises to 43% if very low bioavailability (5%) scenarios consistent with high-phytate, low-animal protein diets are considered.Moderate
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