In the last few decades, there has been an increase in the prevalence of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been suggested that this could be the result of a nutrition transition characterised by changes in the dietary pattern towards an unbalanced and unhealthy diet, accompanied by an unhealthy lifestyle that includes physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour.

This new scientific work within the ANIBES Study analyses the daily intake of zinc, selenium, and vitamins A (retinol and carotenes), E and C, which have in common biological functions involved in the antioxidant defence system and important implications for the prevention of inflammatory chronic diseases and in particular of cardiovascular illnesses.

According to this new scientific work within the ANIBES Study, a significant percentage of the Spanish ANIBES population does not meet the recommended intakes for zinc, vitamin A and vitamin E; a reasonable percentage of people does not meet the recommendations of vitamin C; and a low percentage of people does not meet the selenium recommendations.

The main food source intakes for zinc were meat and meat products; for selenium were cereals and grains; for vitamin E oils and fat; and for vitamins A and C vegetables. 

Learn more about the study Reported Dietary Intake and Food Sources of Zinc, Selenium, and Vitamins A, E and C in the Spanish Population: Findings from the ANIBES Study