The researchers estimated that, at that point, 175 million people could become deficient in zinc, and 122 million people could become protein-deficient. Researchers also said 1.4 billion women of childbearing age and children under 5 who are now at high risk of iron deficiency could have their iron intakes reduced by 4 percent or more.

“Our research makes it clear that decisions we are making every day — how we heat our homes, what we eat, how we move around, what we choose to purchase —are making our food less nutritious and imperiling the health of other populations and future generations,” Sam Myers, lead author of the study and principal research scientist at the school, said in the statement.

The study, which was published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, built on previous research that looked at fewer foods and fewer countries, researchers said.

The rise in carbon dioxide “is likely to reduce the dietary supply of nutrients for many populations and increase the prevalence of global nutritional insufficiency. … This is particularly concerning as over two billion people are currently estimated to be deficient in one or more nutrients,” the study said.

Source: Harvard researchers say climate change will impact diets of millions worldwide – The Boston Globe