Micronutrients Deficiency prevalence Major deficiency disorders Iron 35% of women (15–49 years of age) and 46% of children (under five years) [36 ] Iron deficiency anemia, reduced learning and work capacity, increased maternal and infant mortality, low birth weight, impaired human function at all stages of life Iodine 22.0–27.9% [48 –50 ] (urinary iodine <100 g/L) Cretinism, goiter, impaired cognitive function, increased prenatal morbidity and mortality, reduced productivity Zinc* 87.3% in children [51 ]; 61.0% in pregnant women [8 ] Poor pregnancy outcome, impaired growth (stunting), genetic disorders, decreased resistance to infectious diseases Folate* 6.2% in children [52 ]; 12.0% in pregnant women [8 ] Neural tube and other birth defects, megaloblastic anemia, heart disease, stroke, impaired cognitive function, depression Vitamin A* 8.5% in children [52 ]; 7.0% in pregnant women [8 ] Xerophthalmia (night blindness, Bitot’s spot, corneal ulcer, keratomalacia, xerosis), increased risk of morbidity and mortality, increased risk of anemia Vitamin D* 17.2% in children [52 ]; 14.0% in pregnant women [8 ] Rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, colorectal cancer Vitamin E* 17.9% in children [52 ]; 25.0% in pregnant women [8 ] Ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, muscle weakness, miscarriages, slow growth in children Vitamin C* Limited information Scurvy (fatigue, hemorrhages, low resistance to infection, anemia) Vitamin B1* Limited information Beriberi (cardiac and neurologic), Wernicke, and Korsakov syndromes (alcoholic confusion and paralysis) Vitamin B2* 33.0% in pregnant women [8 ] Nonspecific (fatigue, eye changes, dermatitis, brain dysfunction, impaired iron absorption) Vitamin B3* Limited information Pellagra (dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, death) Vitamin B6* 43.1% in children [52 ]; 40.0% in pregnant women [8 ] Dermatitis, neurological disorders, convulsions, anemia, elevated plasma homocysteine Vitamin B12* 18.1% in children [52 ]; 28.0% in pregnant women [8 ] Megaloblastic anemia (associated with Helicobacter pylori induced gastric atrophy) Calcium* Limited information Decreased bone mineralization, rickets, osteoporosis Selenium* 59.0% in children [52 ] Cardiomyopathy and increased cancer and cardiovascular risk Fluoride* Limited information Affects bone health including increased dental decay