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Micronutrients & recovery
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.
Calcium deficiency is the most common micronutrient issue in Africa, affecting 54% of people. This is largely due to diets low in calcium-rich animal products and high in phytates. To address this, you need to diversify your diet to include more calcium-rich foods or consider direct fortification.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Deficiency risks are highest for Ca (54% of the population)... Dietary diversification or direct fortification is likely to be needed to address Ca deficiency risks.
Why this rating
Based on Food Balance Sheets (FBS) and food composition data, which are proxy measures.
Source
Dietary mineral supplies in Africa
Edward J. M. Joy et al. · Physiologia Plantarum · 2013
DOI 10.1111/ppl.12144
narrative_review · n=1010000000Cited 233×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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