Tag: Health disparity

While clinical vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is rare in the U.S., affecting less than 1% of the population, inadequate intake is a more widespread concern. Recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005–2016 reveals a significant portion of the adult population does not meet the estimated average requirement for this crucial nutrient.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 75% of African Americans and 90% of Native Americans have lactose malabsorption, meaning their bodies produce less of the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar. This genetic predisposition is a primary reason why many Native Americans have not historically used dairy products in their traditional diets.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of all deaths among children under five years of age are linked to undernutrition, occurring predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. This stark statistic raises a critical question: Is malnutrition a health disparity? The answer is a resounding yes, as it is a deeply rooted issue shaped by social, economic, and environmental inequities.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over one billion adults worldwide were overweight in 2022, with 300 million living with obesity. Yet, paradoxically, millions of these individuals also face the challenge of food insecurity, highlighting a complex and often misunderstood public health crisis.

African Americans have significantly lower circulating levels of vitamin D compared to white Americans due to increased skin melanin, but whether this poses a health risk is a subject of debate. This article will delve into what constitutes a normal vitamin D level for African Americans and the factors influencing it, including the role of vitamin D-binding protein.