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*The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) and Danone have launched a year-long campaign called ‘Optimum Health and Nutrition’, focusing on the link between nutrition and digestive health. *

This campaign is part of a three-year partnership between WGO and Danone to help raise awareness of digestive disorders and the importance of maintaining good digestive health.

Millions worldwide suffer from digestive disorders which can seriously impact well-being and quality of life. Overall, digestive disorders are associated with considerable discomfort, disability, disruption of family life, high healthcare costs, and time lost from work and other productive activities.

In Europe, approximately 40 to 80 million people are affected by digestive disorders and projected costs are €5.1billion, while in the US, they account for 13% of all hospitalisations and nearly $24billion in costs*.

According to Professor Eamonn Quigley, President, World Gastroenterology Organisation: “This year, we celebrate our 50th anniversary and have chosen to highlight the crucial topic of nutrition and digestive health. Digestive disorders affect a significant percentage of the population and can lead to serious conditions such as colon cancer.

"We believe that nutrition is integral to digestive health – and overall health – and within nutrition, daily probiotics can play a major role in improving digestive health. Working jointly with Danone, a world leader in food nutrition, we hope to increase awareness of digestive disorders and help people improve their digestive health through easily implemented nutritional and lifestyle changes.”

Dr Nigel Hughes, Vice President R&D, Groupe Danone, says: “This partnership demonstrates the commitment of Danone to improving nutrition and digestive health. Most digestive disorders are caused by poor or inadequate nutrition. The WGO has recently released nutritional guidelines including the daily consumption of probiotics and we hope more healthcare professionals will include probiotic foods with proven health benefits, such as Activia yogurt, in the management of people with digestive disorders.”

Over the next three years, Danone and the WGO will continue to work together to raise awareness of digestive disorders and help make fellow healthcare professionals, the general public and governments more aware of issues – local, national and global – relating to nutrition and, especially, as they relate to digestive health and disease.

In addition, a scientific board series of studies will be carried out annually to determine the prevalence of digestive disorders worldwide and provide clear nutritional recommendations based on local habits and disorders.

* Guarner F, et al. Map of Digestive Disorders , 2008.