Health Study on the Environment, Biomonitoring, Physical Activity, and Nutrition (Esteban 2014–2016). Nutrition Component. Chapter: Biological Assays: Vitamins and Minerals

The nutrition component of the Study on Health, the Environment, Biomonitoring, Physical Activity, and Nutrition (Esteban 2014–2016) aimed to describe dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the nutritional status of the population residing in metropolitan France. This was a follow-up to the National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS) conducted in 2006–2007. Esteban was conducted on a sample of children aged 6 to 17 and adults aged 18 to 74 residing in metropolitan France. Following a random selection process based on a three-stage sampling design, subject enrollment took place from April 2014 to March 2016 to account for seasonal variations in diet and potential exposures. This study included a questionnaire survey, a dietary survey, and a health examination with biological sample collection and testing. This chapter reports the results of a subset of the biomarker assays for nutritional status studied as part of the study, specifically the population’s status regarding vitamin D, ferritin, serum folates, vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotenoids, as well as changes in these levels since the ENNS, by sex, age group, and educational level. The use of dietary supplements and specific medications was taken into account in the processing and analysis of biological data, in cases where these supplements or medications were known to affect the concentrations of the nutritional biomarkers studied. These data were based on a representative national sample of 2,472 adults and 794 children aged 6 to 17 who participated in the health examination and for whom biological samples were available. They were weighted according to the sampling design and adjusted for several sociodemographic characteristics. The results indicate that in 2015, only one in four adults and three in ten children reached an adequate vitamin D level. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency affected nearly 7% of adults and 4% of children, reaching 13% among adolescents. While the situation has improved since 2006 among women, there has been an increase in deficiency among men aged 55–74. Regarding iron status, 20% of women of childbearing age had completely depleted iron stores, 7% had anemia, and 4% suffered from iron-deficiency anemia, most of which was untreated. No significant changes have been observed since 2006. The prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia exceeded 10% among girls aged 6–17. Regarding folate status, the prevalence of the risk of serum folate deficiency was virtually zero among adolescent girls (ages 15–17), but it has nearly doubled over the past decade among adult women of childbearing age (ages 18–49, non-menopausal), rising from 7% in 2006 to 13% in 2015. Finally, the prevalence of retinol and tocopherol deficiencies was virtually zero in the French population in 2015 as in 2006, regardless of individuals’ sex, age, or educational level, while the average serum concentration of the main carotenoids was higher among older adults and those with higher levels of education. Overall, no alarming results were observed in 2015 regarding the main nutritional biomarkers studied. There are no significant deficiencies or widespread deficiencies within the French population that would require the implementation of large-scale public health policies. These results, however, highlight several areas of concern that must be taken into account to prioritize and guide targeted prevention efforts, particularly the increase in vitamin D deficiency among men over 55, the rising prevalence of folate deficiency risk among women of childbearing age, the screening and treatment of iron deficiency in women of childbearing age, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies linked to reduced fruit and vegetable consumption in certain subpopulations.

Publishing year: 2019

Pages: 61 p.

Collection: Studies and Surveys

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