About the Second Nutrition Report

Background

The Report is the second in a series of publications that offers a snapshot of the U.S. population's nutrition status by assessing a wide range of biochemical indicators. The results are presented by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. The goal of the report is to improve understanding of the levels of biochemical indicators of diet and nutrition in the U.S. population and in selected population groups such as children and women of childbearing age.

An Executive Summary is also available.

Key findings

• The rate of nutrient deficiencies in the general U.S. population ranges from less than 1% for folate, vitamin A, and vitamin E to about 10% for vitamin B6, vitamin D, and iron. For most nutrition indicators, deficiency rates vary by age, gender, or race/ethnicity, and can be as high as 31% for vitamin D deficiency in non-Hispanic blacks.
• Folate deficiency decreased to less than 1% after foods began being fortified with folic acid in 1998. Before fortification began, folate deficiency, as determined by blood folate levels, was approximately 12% for women of childbearing age. The report also shows that blood folate levels in all race/ethnic groups were 50% higher since fortification.
• Non-Hispanic blacks (31%) and Mexican Americans (12%) had higher rates of vitamin D deficiency compared to non-Hispanic whites (3%).
• Young women (20 to 39 years of age) had iodine levels close to levels indicating iodine insufficiency. This age group also had the lowest levels among any age group of women.
• Using a new marker of iron status, the report indicates higher rates of iron deficiency in Mexican-American children aged 1 to 5 years (11%) and in non-Hispanic black (16%) and Mexican-American women (13%) of childbearing age (12 to 49 years) when compared to other race/ethnic groups. The new iron marker measurements will help doctors better interpret iron status in individuals, especially in persons with disease that includes inflammation.
• The report offers first-time data on blood levels of fatty acids in the U.S. population. These include heart-healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as saturated fatty acids that increase risk for heart disease. These first measurements in the U.S. population provide a baseline to track fatty acid levels over time. This will evaluate our nation's progress toward heart-healthy diets.

What CDC is doing

CDC plans subsequent editions of the report. These may include the same or new biochemical indicators. A different set of biochemical indicators may be available for NHANES survey periods. Over time, the series of reports will:

• Continue to track trends in the biochemical indicators
• Assess characteristics of new biochemical indicators added to future reports
• Help determine the effectiveness of public health efforts to improve the diet and nutrition status of the U.S. population