The Malnutrition of Obesity: Micronutrient Deficiencies That Promote Diabetes
Table 1
Prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in obesity and diabetes [5, 6, 46, 58–61].
Micronutrient
Prevalence of deficiency
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
Thiamine B1
15–29%
17–79%a
Pyridoxine B6
0–11%
—
Cobalamin B12
3–8%
22%
Folic Acid
3-4%
—
Ascorbic acid C
35–45%
—b
Vitamin A
17%
—
Vitamin D
80–90%c
85–90%c
Vitamin E
0%
0%
Zinc
14–30%
—
Chromium
—
20–40%
Selenium
58%
—
—Prevalence data not available
aData includes type 1 diabetic patients
bDecreased levels of ascorbic acid have been reported in diabetes
cPrevalence reflects rates vitamin D insufficiency.