Nutrients removed from the soil decide the nutritional security of a nation: the case of iron and zinc in India

Abstract

National iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) balance were com-puted using theoretical mean daily per capita dietary Fe and Zn requirement and composition of Fe and Zn in foods in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandryand fisheries sectors. The analyses imply a satisfactory situation that the intake of Fe and Zn through food sources by the Indian population is adequate. Despite sufficient availability of Fe and Zn through food, there is widespread Zn and Fe deficiency in our population. Ours is a vegetarian-dominant society. The phytate content of our foods is relatively high as the phytate content of vegetarian diets is high.This may be the main cause of the low absorption of Zn and Fe from the foods we eat. A sector-wise contribution indicated a major share of the agriculture sector, followed by the animal husbandry sector.Surprisingly, horticulture sector contributed a small portion (9.1% Zn and 12.9% Fe). The fisheries sector contributed the least. Given the multiple sources of uncertainty in following this method, caution must be exercised in interpreting the estimated figures for prevalence.Since our food sources are supplying enough Fe and Zn, our research efforts should therefore be diverted towards bioavail-ability rather than bio-fortification.