Micronutrient Deficiencies

Micronutrient deficiency is when one’s body does not receive the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals to properly function. “At the subclinical level of micronutrient deficiency poor general health and decreased school and work performance are likely to result, and mortality risk increases. Known clinical outcomes of micronutrient deficiencies include impaired growth and cognitive development, poor birth outcomes, anaemia, cretinism, and blindness,” (Micronutrient Report). However, in addition to directly affecting the individual who is malnourished, micronutrient deficiencies can also significantly impact the institutional frameworks of economic and social health in any given country. Large amounts of people who are unhealthy in terms of vitamin and mineral consumption consequently increase healthcare costs and produce a less viable workforce, which thwart economic progress.