UCC-led micronutrient project to examine ‘silent crisis’

UCC professors have warned that Europe is facing a micronutrient deficiency crisis that will impact children’s development and curtail healthy ageing in older adults.

Prof Kevin Cashman and Prof Mairead Kiely have cautioned that the population is facing a crisis in micronutrient deficiency, which arises from inadequate intake or absorption of essential minerals and vitamins.

It is feared this issue particularly affects groups including children, adolescents, pregnant women, older adults, migrant communities, and those affected by social inequalities.

A project led by the UCC professors both to assess the cost and scale of the micronutrient deficiency issue and to develop solutions has just been awarded over €10m in funding.

The Zero_HiddenHunger_EU Project, a 19-partner consortium, received the research funding from Horizon Europe and Associated Partners for ground-breaking research into tackling micronutrient deficiency in Europe over the next four years.

Jennifer Browne and Anna Power from UCC Academy will provide project management support to the consortium.

The project aims to estimate prevalence and health costs, by generating measures of micronutrient deficiency prevalence using intake data from diverse European populations.

By focusing on high-risk groups, such as marginalised communities and vulnerable populations, the project aims to uncover the true extent of the issue and its associated health costs, using health economics analysis led by Brendan McElroy and Lee-Ann Burke at UCC’s Cork University Business School.

The second part of the project will focus on developing context-specific, food-focused strategies to ensure adequate micronutrient intake from sustainable sources, addressing the root causes of deficiencies across Europe.

By prioritising data-driven interventions and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the project aims to pave the way for a healthier, more resilient Europe.

Professors Cashman and Kiely, joint co-ordinators, said that the project “represents a landmark effort to confront the silent crisis of micronutrient deficiency in Europe”.

“By leveraging innovative research methodologies and collaborative partnerships, we aim to drive meaningful change and ensure equitable access to essential nutrients across European populations,” they said.

Mark Sweeney, the Horizon Europe national contact point at Enterprise Ireland said: “Micronutrient deficiency is a major global health issue and can have very serious and debilitating consequences, particularly amongst vulnerable groups.

“The Zero_HiddenHunger_EU Project is an excellent example of Irish researchers competing at the very highest level of European research and winning.

“The innovative approach of this €10m UCC-led project has the potential to help understand, prevent, and control micronutrient deficiency and have significant positive impacts in terms of human health.”