The CDC’s 2026 National Nutrition Report provides a broad snapshot of nutrition-related markers measured in the United States. It includes information on 131 biochemical indicators, such as vitamins, fatty acids, iron-status indicators, iodine, and other diet-related compounds.

These measurements come from blood and urine samples collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, commonly called NHANES, between 1999 and 2023. The report helps public-health professionals, researchers, and healthcare providers understand nutrition patterns across the population.

What Does the CDC Report Measure?

Many nutrition conversations focus on what people say they ate. This report is different because it looks at biomarkers—substances found in blood and urine that can help researchers assess nutrition patterns across large groups of people.

The information is presented by age, sex, and race and Hispanic origin. The 2026 report also includes comparisons between people who reported dietary-supplement use and those who did not.

What Is Encouraging?

The report shows that some nutrition indicators have improved over time. One major example is folate, a B vitamin that is important during pregnancy, infancy, and other periods of rapid growth.

After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began requiring folic acid fortification of enriched cereal-grain products in 1998, blood folate levels increased by about 50% in the overall U.S. population. The percentage of people with low folate levels dropped from roughly 6% to 8% before fortification to less than 1% afterward.

Vitamin D insufficiency also declined among Americans age 6 and older, falling from 28% in 2001–2002 to 22% in the August 2021–August 2023 period.

Three Findings to Know

1. Omega-3 Levels Remain Low for Many Americans

The report found that more than half of Americans had an omega-3 index below 4%, while 98% had an omega-3 index at or below 8%, a level considered less than optimal in the report’s reference material.

This does not mean everyone should automatically begin an omega-3 supplement. It does suggest that many people may benefit from looking at their food routine and considering more sources of omega-3 fats, such as salmon, sardines, trout, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed, and fortified foods.

A practical food-first approach is to plan seafood meals you actually enjoy. For example, our Lemon Herb Salmon Quinoa Bowls make an easy dinner or meal-prep option.

2. Vitamin D Is a “More Is Not Always Better” Story

While vitamin D insufficiency declined, high vitamin D levels increased. The percentage of Americans age 6 and older with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels above 125 nmol/L rose from less than 1% to 8% between 2001–2002 and August 2021–August 2023.

The increase in high levels was greatest among adult supplement users, women, and non-Hispanic White people. The CDC also found that levels of water- and fat-soluble vitamins were 10% to 60% higher among supplement users, with particularly large differences for vitamin B6 and vitamin D.

The everyday takeaway is simple: more is not always better. Check labels carefully, avoid stacking several products that contain the same nutrient, and ask a qualified healthcare professional whether testing or supplementation makes sense for you.

3. Iodine Trends Deserve Attention

Women ages 12 to 49 showed lower urinary iodine levels from 2001–2002 to 2017–2018. In more recent NHANES cycles, women of reproductive age showed borderline mild iodine deficiency.

Iodine needs can be especially important during pregnancy and other life stages, but individual needs are not identical. Anyone who is pregnant, planning pregnancy, breastfeeding, following a restrictive diet, or concerned about iodine intake should speak with a prenatal-care provider, physician, or registered dietitian before adding a supplement.

What It Means at the Grocery Store

The CDC report is not a universal meal plan. It is a national reference tool that helps experts understand nutrition patterns. For everyday eating, the most useful response is to focus on repeatable habits—not to chase every nutrient one at a time.

A Food-First Week of Ideas

You do not need to change your entire diet overnight. Adding one or two repeatable meal ideas can make it easier to build more variety into a regular routine.

• Breakfast: Berry chia overnight oats with fruit and yogurt.
• Lunch: Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad with lime and cilantro.
• Quick dinner: Mediterranean Chickpea Cucumber Tomato Salad with whole-grain pita or your preferred protein.
• Meal-prep dinner: Lemon Herb Salmon Quinoa Bowls with vegetables.
• Easy family meal: Lemon Garlic Chicken, Sweet Potato & Broccoli Sheet Pan.

These meals do not diagnose or treat nutrient deficiencies. Their value is practical: they can make it easier to include vegetables, fiber, protein, whole grains, and healthy fats in everyday eating.

How to Think About Supplements

Supplements may be useful in specific circumstances, but the CDC report shows why they should be used thoughtfully. It describes population-level differences in nutrient biomarkers between supplement users and nonusers; it does not provide an individual prescription.

1. Know your goal. Avoid choosing a supplement only because it is trending online.
2. Check for overlap. Look across multivitamins, powders, fortified drinks, and individual supplements.
3. Consider whether testing is appropriate. A qualified clinician can help decide when laboratory testing may be useful.
4. Review medications and conditions. Interactions and safety considerations can vary from person to person.
5. Keep food in the conversation. A balanced meal pattern can be an important part of long-term nutrition habits.

The Bottom Line

The 2026 CDC Nutrition Report provides a broad picture of nutrition-related biomarkers in the United States. It shows meaningful improvement in some areas, including folate status after food fortification and a decline in vitamin D insufficiency.

At the same time, the report highlights areas that deserve attention, including low omega-3 status for many Americans, iodine trends among women of reproductive age, and the need to avoid assuming that higher vitamin D levels are always better.

For most people, the practical response is not a complicated protocol. It is to build a more varied, balanced, and realistic food routine—and to get individualized guidance when a health question requires it.