Editing Micronutrient (section)

== Human micronutrient deficiencies ==
Inadequate intake of essential nutrients predisposes humans to various [[Chronic condition|chronic diseases]], with some 50% of American adults having one or more preventable disease.<ref name="micinad2" /> In the United States, foods poor in micronutrient content and high in [[food energy]] make up some 27% of daily [[calorie]] intake.<ref name="micinad2" /> One US national survey (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2006) found that persons with high sugar intake consumed fewer micronutrients, especially [[Vitamin|vitamins]] A, C, and E, and magnesium.<ref name="micinad2" /> Various strategies have been employed to combat micronutrient deficiencies:
=== Salt iodization ===
[[Salt iodization]] is a strategy for addressing [[iodine deficiency]], which is a cause of mental health problems.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Redman |first1=Kahla |last2=Ruffman |first2=Ted |last3=Fitzgerald |first3=Penelope |last4=Skeaff |first4=Sheila |date=2016-12-09 |title=Iodine Deficiency and the Brain: Effects and Mechanisms|pmid=25880137 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10408398.2014.922042 |journal=Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition|volume=56|issue=16|pages=2695–2713 |doi=10.1080/10408398.2014.922042 |issn=1040-8398|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 1990, less than 20 percent of households in developing countries had adequate iodine in their diet.<ref name="FlourFortification2">Flour Fortification Initiative, GAIN, Micronutrient Initiative, USAID, The [[World Bank]], UNICEF, ''Investing in the future: a united call to action on vitamin and mineral deficiencies'', p. 19.</ref> By 1994, international partnerships had formed in a global campaign for Universal Salt Iodization. By 2008, it was estimated that 72 percent of households in developing countries included iodized salt in their diets,<ref>UNICEF, ''The State of the World's Children 2010'', Statistical Tables, p. 15.</ref> and the number of countries in which iodine deficiency disorders were a public health concern reduced by more than half from 110 to 47 countries.<ref name="FlourFortification2" />

=== Vitamin A supplementation ===
[[Vitamin A]] deficiency is a major factor in causing [[blindness]] worldwide, particularly among children.<ref name="lpivit2" /> Global vitamin A supplementation efforts have targeted 103 priority countries. Flour fortification has become an increasingly common method by which vitamin A can be added to diets thus reducing deficiencies. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Klemm |first1=Rolf D. W. |last2=WestJr. |first2=Keith P. |last3=Palmer |first3=Amanda C. |last4=Johnson |first4=Quentin |last5=Randall |first5=Philip |last6=Ranum |first6=Peter |last7=Northrop-Clewes |first7=Christine |date=2010-03-01 |title=Vitamin A Fortification of Wheat Flour: Considerations and Current Recommendations |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15648265100311S105 |journal=Food and Nutrition Bulletin |language=EN |volume=31 |issue=1_suppl1 |pages=S47–S61 |doi=10.1177/15648265100311S105 |pmid=20629352 |issn=0379-5721|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Zinc ===
Zinc is a necessary micronutrient which the human body uses to fight infections and childhood diarrhea. Collectively, zinc deficiencies are responsible for 4% of child morbidity and mortality, as of 2013.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Penny |first=Mary Edith |date=2013-05-03 |title=Zinc Supplementation in Public Health |url=https://karger.com/anm/article-abstract/62/Suppl.%201/31/433/Zinc-Supplementation-in-Public-Health?redirectedFrom=fulltext |journal=Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism |volume=62 |issue=Suppl. 1 |pages=31–42 |doi=10.1159/000348263 |issn=0250-6807|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Fortification of staple foods such as breads may improve [[Serum (blood)|serum]] zinc levels in the human population, increasing immune strength.<ref name="pmid272816542">{{cite journal |vauthors=Shah D, Sachdev HS, Gera T, De-Regil LM, Peña-Rosas JP |date=June 2016 |title=Fortification of staple foods with zinc for improving zinc status and other health outcomes in the general population |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |volume=2016 |issue=6 |pages=CD010697 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD010697.pub2 |pmc=8627255 |pmid=27281654}}</ref> Zinc fortification has also been considered for reducing effects cognition, though the effectiveness is still under research.<ref name="pmid272816542" />