A recent study has linked multivitamin use with a reduced risk of cancer in men. How can this research be adequately utilised within the health and nutrition sector aside from simply promoting multivitamin use?
Manfred Eggersdorfer: The recent publication demonstrated a significant risk reduction in cancers by a multivitamin supplement and is an important contribution to the ongoing debate about the role of micronutrients in supporting health.
The study demonstrates that a prudent diet complemented with a regular intake of a multivitamin has an impact on long-term health and multi-factorial chronic diseases.
The study result has four dimensions. First, it indicates that it is the combination of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) at a moderate dose, rather than any single ingredient, that is connected to the benefit. This supports the argument that micronutrients must act in concert for optimal function.
Secondly, it demonstrates that adequate or optimised nutrition can help people to care for and contribute to their long-term health – a key concern for ageing societies across the world.
Thirdly, although some people may question the significance of an 8% risk reduction, this shouldn’t discourage us from putting an emphasis on nutrition. It only tells us that, besides nutrition, there are a number of additional important lifestyle factors to consider in the prevention of such serious diseases as cancer.
Finally, vitamins and multivitamins work and are essential for human health. The study will be a landmark reference for individuals, food companies, policy makers and health care professionals.
Modern market needs are driven by global trends such as sustainability. What do you consider to be the biggest global trends right now, and how is DSM addressing these?
Manfred Eggersdorfer: The biggest drivers for change today are technological advancements in a globalised world. For nutrition and health more specifically, we face the challenge of a significant increase in processed foods and snacks.
Nutrient intake, ageing societies, urbanisation and sustainability are all global trends that impact on the current and future requirements for nutritional ingredients. This is highly relevant for DSM’s business and future strategy. We have a unique portfolio of ingredients, including vitamins, carotenoids, PUFAs and new health ingredients that can contribute to these developments and provide solutions for individuals, as well as for societies.
However, the problem is complex. The majority of people in the developed world do not have adequate nutrient intakes, yet all kinds of food are plentifully available.
In low- and middle-income countries, billions of people suffer from nutrient deficiency. These challenges create an opportunity for DSM to provide appropriate solutions to reach these people and meet their different needs.
The health and nutrition industry is growing rapidly. However, it’s also becoming more saturated. How will DSM continue to be successful in such a competitive market looking towards 2013?
Manfred Eggersdorfer: This year, we celebrate 100 years of vitamins. Over the past 100 years, a lot has been achieved: deficiency diseases such as scurvy, rickets, beri-beri, pellagra and others have been eradicated in major parts of the world, and life spans have increased tremendously, with vitamins contributing as essential nutrients.
Fortification (both mandatory and voluntary) is common all over the world, and intake recommendations for optimal health and upper limits for the safe use are established and implemented in all countries.
There has been a renaissance in recent years in vitamins, building on recent technological advancements and insights such as nutrient-gene interactions. Intake surveys from Western countries indicate that, even in countries where a varied diet is available, micronutrient intake and status is not always in the optimal range. The increase in the number of chronic diseases means that new approaches to healthy diets are required. This provides additional opportunities to develop nutritional solutions.
At DSM, we are committed to continuing to provide high-quality products based on sound science with a global outreach. We work in collaboration with key customers and strategic partnerships to address the global challenges of providing appropriate nutrition.
What specific areas of health and nutrition will the company be focusing on next year, for example ‘clean label’, ‘multifunctional’ etc?
Manfred Eggersdorfer: We will continue to provide more information on micronutrient status all over the globe. This will consist of assessments of dietary intake surveys or a more accurate analysis of micronutrient status in the blood, as we have already started to do for vitamin D.
It is clear that, given the widely reported health benefits of essential micronutrients, micronutrient status will have some economic bearing if people don’t receive sufficient nutrient intake.
This is a huge challenge that an individual company cannot do alone, and we’re convinced that only a joint and concerted approach can be successful in tackling these major problems.
We will build on external partnerships with governments, customers and consumers as DSM remains committed to contributing to improving human nutrition on a global base.
Manfred Eggersdorfer is senior vice president nutrition science & advocacy, DSM Nutritional Products.
Rebecca Prescott is editorial assistant of FoodBev.com
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024