Trends in Dietary Micronutrient Adequacy in Young Adults Over the Latest 25 Years in Japan.

Abstract

Background: It has been assumed that economically developed countries are well nourished compared to developing countries, but little is known about how economic status affects dietary micronutrient intake in the future childbearing generation.

Objective: We analyzed the trend of dietary micronutrient adequacy in young adults in Japan, as one of the representative countries with advanced dietary habits and economic progress.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using 2 web-accessible databases, namely the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey and the World Development Indicators.

Results: Japan has been facing a progressive insufficiency of dietary vitamins A and C and iron, especially among young adults, over the past 25 years. The hidden progression of silent malnutrition has become more apparent since the 2010s, coinciding with a series of economic recessions and natural disasters.

Conclusions: Given that parental dietary habits play a critical role in ensuring a balanced diet for their children, our findings underscore the importance of proactive nutrition counseling and education, especially for young adults of childbearing age who have been identified as vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies. In line with this policy, we would like to suggest the use of digital transformation platforms as a potential solution in the future, especially for the digital native population.