Understanding the Nutrition Gap

Even if you feel well, your diet might not be giving you everything your body needs for ongoing optimal health. At Cytoplan, we talk about the “nutrition gap”, which is the difference between the nutrients you get from a typical Western diet and the levels your body needs to thrive long-term.

Your body prioritises nutrients for immediate survival, but what about the bigger picture? To support energy, immunity, and overall health and wellbeing, now and for future-you, you need more than the minimum. That’s where a multivitamin and mineral supplement comes in; a simple, affordable way to bridge the gap and give your body the nourishment it needs.

Why does the Nutrition Gap exist? 

Several factors can leave us short on essential nutrients:

• Food choices – Convenience often wins over variety. Many people’s diets are high in refined, processed foods that offer low nutrient density and empty calories.
• Nutrient quality – Studies have shown that the levels of nutrients in our foods have changed. For example, modern farming and processing methods often reduce nutrient density, so even those who aim to eat a diet focused on wholefoods may not be achieving optimal intake of certain nutrients.
• Absorption issues – Our bodies don’t always absorb nutrients efficiently. For example, stomach acid production commonly declines with age, through infections, smoking and various medications and this can result in reduced absorption of nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, magnesium, calcium and zinc
• Lifestyle stressors – Smoking, alcohol, prescription medications, and stress can all increase micronutrient needs.
• Activity levels – Our bodies still need the same micronutrients as our active hunter-gatherer ancestors, but modern sedentary lifestyles mean we need far less food as fuel. As a result, many people consume enough energy but fall short on essential vitamins and minerals, leaving them well-fed but undernourished.
• Genetics – Individual differences can affect how we absorb and utilise nutrients. The result? Many of us aren’t meeting daily nutrient needs. A well-formulated multivitamin can help fill those gaps, not as a replacement for healthy eating, but as a smart backup for peace of mind.

Who could benefit from taking a multivitamin and mineral?

While almost everyone can benefit, some groups have higher nutrient needs or risk of deficiency:

• Children – Childhood is a time of rapid growth and development, when nutrient deficiencies can have consequences for both immediate and long-term health. It can be difficult to ensure children are getting an optimal level of nutrients in their diet, so a multivitamin with great levels of key nutrients to support children’s health, such as vitamins A and D, zinc, calcium and iron, can provide reassurance.
• Teens - Adolescence is another critical window for nutrition, characterised by rapid physical, hormonal, and cognitive development. Unfortunately, UK teenagers often fail to meet recommended intakes for multiple vitamins and minerals, with poor diets dominated by ultra-processed foods. National dietary surveys have found that only 9% of adolescents met the 5-A-Day recommendations for fruit and vegetables, with an average intake of 2.7 portions. These are the lowest figures of any age groups, and the statistics are worsening, leaving teens at risk of several micronutrient deficiencies. Key nutrients for teen health include iron, iodine, folate, calcium and Vitamin D.
• Older adults – This group is particularly vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies due to physiological changes, reduced appetite, and impaired nutrient absorption. For example, the reduction in stomach acid that commonly occurs in ageing can reduce the absorption of nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium and magnesium. Other nutrients that are key to supporting optimal health in older adults but are at risk of deficiency include vitamins D3 and K2, folate, zinc and selenium.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women – pregnancy increases nutrient requirements by up to 50%, making optimal intake essential for both the growth of the baby and maternal health. Nutrients including folate, iron, calcium, vitamin D, iodine, vitamin B12 and choline, alongside omega-3 fatty acids are essential to support these nutritionally demanding stages of life
• People on certain medications - medications have the potential to cause nutrient deficiencies by interfering with absorption, metabolism, or increasing excretion of essential vitamins and minerals. This phenomenon is known as drug-induced nutrient depletion, and it can have significant health implications, especially with long-term use. 
• Those with absorption issues (e.g. Coeliac disease)

What’s in a multivitamin?

There are 13 vitamins and around 15 minerals that are essential to maintaining optimal health, and a multivitamin provides them in a convenient and low-cost way. Many of these nutrients will help to produce enzymes and hormones, support natural immunity and keep your nerves and organs functioning optimally. Your body also needs these vitamins and minerals for reproduction, growth and the regulation of bodily processes.

Choosing the right multivitamin

Not all multivitamins are created equal. Here at Cytoplan our focus is on Bio-effective® formulations.

Bio-effective® multivitamins are designed to deliver nutrients in forms that your body can absorb and use effectively, ensuring they provide real health benefits. Bio-effective® goes beyond simple bioavailability (how much gets absorbed) to include how well those nutrients perform in the body. This means the supplement contains nutrients in the correct forms, at optimal levels, and alongside synergistic cofactors—so they work together as they do in nature. In short, Bio-effective® supplements are those that actually make a difference to your immediate and long-term health, supporting energy, immunity, and overall wellbeing.

Multivitamins that have levels of nutrients that are above the Nutrient Reference Intake (NRV) but lower than the upper safe limit are recommended. NRVs were never intended as any more than a ‘safety net’ with the specific purpose of preventing disease, as opposed to promoting optimal health or considering individual needs. With this in mind, you will find that many of the nutrients in our multivitamin and mineral supplements exceed the NRV.

Find your perfect multivitamin and mineral formulation 

Cytoplan have a range of multivitamin formulations with targeted support for a range of individuals:

• Kids (from age 1) – Drops, gummies and easy-to-swallow tablets
• Teens – Tailored to support this time of rapid development
• Women – Tailored formulas for all life stages, including menopause
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding - To support optimal health for both mum and baby
• Men – For all life stages, to support testosterone levels, energy, cardiovascular health, immunity and long-term prostate health
• Over 50s – Extra support for healthy ageing

We also have an Advanced Multi - an ultimate, optimum potency ‘multi plus’, with additional targeted nutrients to support energy production, hormone balance, detoxification, and antioxidant protection. The advanced multivitamin is ideal for those with specific health needs or those requiring comprehensive maximum strength nutritional support every day.