Inadequate levels of essential nutrients in developed nations as a risk factor for disease: a review.

Inadequate levels of essential nutrients is a most important factor in environmental health, leading to an almost monotonic increase in the incidence, morbidity, mortality, and associated costs of 'diseases of affluence' that has persisted for circa a century. Such an unprecedented human tragedy can be explained by the (1) flawed belief that essential nutrients can be replaced by xenobiotic molecules--a fundamental error, (2) failure to recognize that the levels of certain essential nutrients in diets available in the environment are not adequate to produce optimum health, longevity or resistance, and (3) failure to recognize that the refined diet has a lower essential nutrient content. Such beliefs contribute to early death in affluent nations.