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Causes of Nutrient Deficiencies in Kids & Adults

What’s Missing, Why It Matters, and How to Fix It

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🧠 Why Nutritional Deficiency Is a Hidden Epidemic

 

Nutrient deficiencies are extremely common, even in high-income countries.

Up to:

  • 31% of U.S. population is at risk for at least one vitamin deficiency or anemia

  • 40% of children under 5 may be deficient in iron or vitamin D in some regions
    (Bird et al., 2017; Pfeiffer et al., 2013)

 

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Nutritional Deficiencies often go unnoticed, but they can affect:

  • Mood

  • Energy

  • Immunity

  • Cognition

  • Growth and development

 

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🔍 Common Deficiencies (Across All Ages)

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Nutrient              Role                                                    Common Signs of Deficiency                        

Iron                       - Oxygen transport, Brain growth            Fatigue, pale skin, poor focus, pica 

Vitamin D            - Mood, Bones, Immunity                         Low mood, frequent illness, poor growth 

B12/Folate          - Nerves, Mood, Energy                            Brain fog, numbness, low energy 

Magnesium         - Calm, Sleep, Stress regulation                Anxiety, cramps, irritability 

Zinc                      - Growth, Immunity                                    Skin issues, poor wound healing, appetite loss 

Iodine                  - Thyroid & Brain development                 Poor growth, learning delays 

Omega-3s           - Brain, Eye development, Emotion          Mood issues, learning issues, inflammation 

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⚠️ Top Reasons for Deficiency

 

1. 🍟 Highly Processed Diets (Low Nutrient Density)

  • Kids & adults often consume high calories but low micronutrients

  • White bread, fried foods, sugary snacks replace nutrient-dense foods

  • Fast food culture leads to “overfed but undernourished” states
    (Monteiro et al., 2019)

 

2. 🍼 Picky Eating / Sensory-Based Food Avoidance

  • Especially common in neurodivergent children (ADHD, autism, SPD)

  • Avoidance of protein, vegetables, or textures can limit key nutrients

  • May lead to iron, zinc, fiber, and vitamin A or D deficiencies
    (Bandini et al., 2010)

 

3. 🌥️ Lack of Sunlight (Vitamin D Deficiency)

  • Indoor living, screen time, sunscreen, and long winters all contribute

  • Vitamin D is hard to get from food alone

  • Linked to depression, poor immunity, and low energy
    (Holick, 2007)

 

4. 🚽 Poor Absorption (GI or Medical Conditions)

  • Conditions like celiac, Crohn’s, IBS, or frequent antibiotic use impair gut lining

  • Kids with chronic diarrhea or constipation may not absorb nutrients well

  • Commonly impacts iron, B12, magnesium, and fat-soluble vitamins
    (Heyman et al., 2017)

 

5. 💊 Medication Interactions

  • Some drugs deplete nutrients (e.g., metformin → B12, antacids → magnesium & iron, ADHD meds → appetite suppression)
    (Gröber et al., 2013)

 

6. 🏃‍♀️ Increased Needs (Growth, Puberty, Stress, Pregnancy)

  • Children in growth spurts, menstruating teens, athletes, and pregnant adults need more nutrients

  • Deficiencies happen when intake doesn’t match demand
    (Allen, 2005)

 

7. 💸 Food Insecurity / Restrictive Diets

  • Economic hardship, elimination diets, or unbalanced veganism can lead to low intake of iron, B12, zinc, or protein

  • Requires intentional planning or supplementation

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​Remember that Nutrient Deficiencies can be determined by your Doctor.

If you are struggling to get the help you want,

you can search for GP's that have an interest in this area. 

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References

  1. Allen, L. H. (2005). Multiple micronutrients in pregnancy and lactation: an overview. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(5), 1206S–1212S.

  2. Bandini, L. G., Anderson, S. E., Curtin, C., Cermak, S., Evans, E. W., Scampini, R., ... & Must, A. (2010). Food selectivity in children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Pediatrics, 157(2), 259–264.

  3. Bird, J. K., Murphy, R. A., Ciappio, E. D., & McBurney, M. I. (2017). Risk of deficiency in multiple concurrent micronutrients in children and adults in the United States. Nutritional Research, 38, 17–23.

  4. Gröber, U., Schmidt, J., & Kisters, K. (2013). Magnesium in prevention and therapy. Nutrients, 5(3), 895–911.

  5. Heyman, M. B., & Committee on Nutrition. (2017). Lactose intolerance in infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatrics, 118(3), 1279–1286.

  6. Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266–281.

  7. Monteiro, C. A., Moubarac, J. C., Cannon, G., Ng, S. W., & Popkin, B. (2013). Ultra-processed products are becoming dominant in the global food system. Obesity Reviews, 14(S2), 21–28.

  8. Pfeiffer, C. M., Sternberg, M. R., & Schleicher, R. L. (2013). The CDC’s Second National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition. The Journal of Nutrition, 143(6), 938S–947S.​

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