Micronutrient deficiencies. Hohenheim Consensus Conference.

Objective: The aim of this study was to consider the risk of micronutrient deficiencies and approaches for intervention, and to summarize existing knowledge and identify areas of ignorance.

Design: Experts from a range of relevant disciplines received and considered a series of questions related to aspects of the topic.

Intervention: The experts met and discussed the questions and arrived at a consensus.

Conclusion: Though healthy balanced diet is available for the general European population, a few defined groups are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies. In addition, the intake of specific micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, vitamin D and vitamin B12 are often marginal. To overcome these deficiencies, either selected micronutrients or a mixture of different micronutrients might be recommended. However, to define and detect micronutrient deficiencies, specific biomarkers are only available for a few micronutrients (e. g. vitamin D, folic acid, vitamin C, iron). The definition of a risk group, based on scientific data, might be an appropriate way to justify intervention with supplements.