The workshop participants considered that a fundamental barrier to validation of markers able to detect marginal deficiency states was the absence of a reliable measure of zinc nutritional status.
While even a marginal magnesium deficiency can impair exercise performance, magnesium supplementation can also boost training performance in athletes, particularly in magnesium-deficient individuals [ 2, 4].
Whereas, a study in Addis Ababa found 0% deficiency and 11.3% marginal deficiency among lactating mothers [ 12].
A sensitive and reliable blood biomarker may reveal additional cases of marginal deficiency.
Thus, it is likely that acute events in susceptible children can tip the scale of marginal deficiency to more significant deficiency; hence, the basis for WHO/UNICEF recommendations for zinc supplementation in response to an attack of diarrhea (2).
However, there is already sufficient evidence to suggest that marginal deficiencies in folate, vitamin B12, niacin and zinc impact significantly on spontaneous chromosome damage rate.
This study determined the effects of marginal deficiencies of these essential elements on the absorption and organ retention of Cd from a natural food that contains Cd, edible sunflower kernels (Helianthus annuus L.; SFK).
This review summarizes the effects of marginal deficiencies of the essential nutrients zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca) on the enhancement of absorption and organ accumulation and retention of dietary Cd in laboratory animals.
These marginal deficiencies enhanced Cd absorption as much as ten-fold from diets containing low Cd concentrations similar to that consumed by some human populations, indicating that people who are nutritionally marginal with respect to Zn, Fe, and Ca are at higher risk of Cd disease than those who are nutritionally adequate.
Recognizing and correcting multiple vitamin marginal deficiencies may be the key to the treatment of many HIV-infected patients.
