Data collation by GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute has revealed the alarming prevalence of nutrient deficiencies in the US.
According to NHANES data, up to 65% of Americans are currently vitamin D deficient.
As well as this, more than 80% of the US population do not consume enough omega-3, and four in ten are likely to be magnesium deficient.
This problem also extends to other crucial nutrients, including:
- Vitamin A (35% deficient)
- Zinc (15%)
- Vitamin E (84%)
- Vitamin C (46%)
It is important to note that all of these nutrients play a role in supporting immune health, and deficiencies in any of the above can affect an individual's quality of life and overall wellness.
Nutrient deficiency and cancer
From these findings, GrassrootsHealth wanted to determine if nutrient deficiencies had any bearing on an individual's cancer risk.
A study by Shamsi et al. (2020) found that insufficient vitamin D exposure could increase a woman's likelihood of breast cancer by around 70%, while a patient's vitamin D level affected the outcome of 97% of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.1
It also highlighted the positive impact of vitamin D supplementation on reducing breast cancer risk, as supplementation for a year could slash an individual's risk by 68%.
Magnesium and omega-3 levels were also associated with breast cancer risk.
In a study published by Huang et al., those who had a high intake of magnesium were 40% less likely to develop breast cancer when compared with those who had low Mg intake.2
Omega-3 saw a similar trend, with a meta-analysis by Zheng et al. finding that a heightened consumption of omega-3 was correlated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.3
These findings highlight the potential of dietary changes in reducing cancer risk, while also promoting the potential of nutrient supplementation to optimise health.
References
1 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0225402
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30962499/
3 https://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f3706.long
