girl eating soup

The importance of micronutrient intake has been sidelined as the war on sugar dominates the health agenda, according to a new study.

At least one in 10 teenagers are falling short on a number of key micronutrients, including vitamin A, iron and calcium, says research published by the British Nutrition Foundation.

It said teenage girls were particularly at risk, putting potential future children at risk too, with widespread ignorance among parents, 61% of whom think their children are getting a sufficient balance of vitamins. The independent review, which was commissioned by Warburtons, highlighted that for nine key vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc, at least 10% of teenagers were at risk of insufficient intake, with intake of iron and calcium among teenage girls the most concerning. Nearly half of teenage girls have intakes of iron that are likely to be inadequate, while one in five are at risk of inadequate intake of calcium.

“Adolescence is a crucial time for vitamin intake, and yet our research shows that it is also the time when we consume the least amount of many micronutrients, which is very concerning,” said report author Sara Stanner, science director at the BNF.

“While there are good reasons for the health agenda focusing on obesity recently, it is important that we do not lose sight of the importance of micronutrients in this debate.

“In addition, the trend towards cutting out some of the more traditional food items means consumers are at risk of missing out on some of the best sources of micronutrients. It is important that we do not just think about how much we are eating, but what we are eating too.”