The paper, Micronutrient Inadequacy in Europe: the Overlooked Role of Food Supplements in Health Resilience, shows that deficiencies and insufficiencies are common, especially among certain demographic groups such as children, older adults, pregnant and lactating women, and those following restrictive diets. The paper further highlights that despite the growing evidence of the impact nutrient gaps have on resilience, productivity, and healthcare costs, the health and economic consequences remain under-recognised in public policy. For example, this review highlights
Dr. Kostas Mantantzis, senior author of the paper, commented: "Our paper highlights the urgency of addressing micronutrient gaps as a public health priority in the EU.
These preventable shortfalls affect wellbeing and strain healthcare systems. Food supplements o?er a safe and effective way to support nutrition and resilience, and their role should be more clearly reflected in public health policies and clinical education as valuable complements to a balanced diet”.
As an example, the authors review existing evidence showing that around 40% of Europeans are vitamin D deficient, a condition linked to higher risks of fractures, osteoporosis, infections, and cardiometabolic disease. They highlight that targeted supplementation with vitamin D and calcium could prevent over half a million fractures annually across the EU, saving healthcare systems €5.7 billion. For every €1 spent, €5.58 could be saved in fracture-related costs, underscoring the strong economic and societal value of such interventions.
In this regard, the authors call for a more integrated approach on nutrition policy in the EU. Such an approach would include greater recognition for the role of food supplements in public health strategies, as they present a safe and effective way to bridge micronutrient gaps. Improved training for healthcare professionals on micronutrient inadequacies and their management would also be a key component of this more integrated EU-wide nutrition approach. Currently, clinical training is often restricted to the treatment of well-known deficiencies such as iron and vitamin D, overlooking the long term and insidious impact of micronutrient insufficiency on the overall health and resilience of the population.
Commenting on the paper, FSE Chair Peter Loosen stated: “This important work confirms what we have long known: nutrient deficiencies are a fact of life for many in the EU. As such, the European Commission’s work on harmonising maximum levels of vitamins and minerals should fully reflect the positive role that food supplements can play in safely and effectively addressing micronutrient gaps,” calling on policymakers to ensure policies are science-based and forward looking.
The paper concludes that integrating food supplements into nutrition policy is a cost effective way to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and support a healthier and more resilient population.