100 Years of Vitamins
Transcription
100 Years of Vitamins
100 years of vitamins Media clippings 1st January – 31st December 2012 1 Foreword from Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer Dear Reader, The year 2012 is the 100th anniversary of vitamins – 100 years since Polish scientist Casimir Funk coined the term “vitamin” to describe bioactive substances essential for human and animal health. During this time, our understanding of the vital role of vitamins in both nutrition and personal care has grown considerably. the importance of improved access to these micronutrients so that everyone has a chance to build a healthy and prosperous future. Much has been achieved: a number of events have taken place around the world on the role of vitamins in health and wellness; there has been wide ranging media coverage in Europe, Asia and the Americas; and, crucially, our advocacy activities have helped to place vitamins higher up the agenda of key decision-makers. To celebrate this anniversary, DSM and our nonprofit nutrition think tank, Sight and Life, have launched the ‘100 Years of Vitamins’ campaign to celebrate the century of contributions that micronutrients have made in protecting and improving human and animal health. We have not done this alone. Focusing on a range of topics, from vitamin A blindness through pregnancy and motherhood to osteoporosis, we have partnered with a number of organizations: NGOs, nutritionists, academics, and charities. The campaign could not have had such a positive impact without such dedicated and expert partners. Vitamins are essential for good health throughout every stage of the human lifecycle: from pregnancy through infancy and childhood, and into adulthood and old age. Our bodies need vitamins to grow, to function, to stay healthy and to prevent the onset of disease. As a company, DSM is committed to ensuring that our bright science is translated into brighter living. We will therefore continue to be a powerful advocate for the importance of nutrition and ensuring that the benefits of vitamins and other nutrients are fully understood and acted upon around the world. However, despite the clear evidence, most people have low vitamins status. One billion people – one in seven – suffer from a lack of access to adequate food and at least two billion people around the world experience “hidden hunger,” and do not receive a satisfactory intake of vitamins. Even in the developed world, where nutritious foods are more plentiful, shifting patterns of diet and lifestyle are leading to ever growing nutritional gaps. We look forward to building on the ‘100 years of vitamins’ campaign in order to ensure another century of improved health and prosperity for us all. The impact of hidden hunger in both the developed and developing world is enormous. Globally, stunted growth and anemia in children are major causes of health problems later in life, including the increasing burden of obesity and chronic diseases. Hidden hunger negatively impacts individuals, communities, health systems and economies. Kind regards, It is essential that we also raise awareness of the benefits of vitamins among both decision makers and the general public. An additional objective of the campaign was therefore to build a much greater understanding amongst key audiences of the role and importance of vitamins in terms of public health, and highlight Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President Nutrition Science & Advocacy, DSM Nutritional Products 2 Foreword from Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D. muscle in tip top shape, while magnesium is critical for coping with stress, maintaining a healthy heartbeat and blood pressure, and improving muscle, nerve, and bones. Unless you include at least three servings daily of calcium-rich milk products or fortified soymilk and lots of magnesium-rich soybeans, nuts and wheat germ, you should supplement these two minerals. Dear reader, We have come a long way in the past 100 years. Now we recognize that vitamins do far more than just prevent classic nutrient deficiency diseases, which are uncommon in the developed world. Many Americans, for example, are marginally deficient in one or more vitamins. That means they consume enough to prevent the classic deficiency, but not enough to be optimally nourished. Marginal deficiencies smolder under the surface and result in compromised health in a subtle way today and serious conditions later in life. Osteoporosis is a good example. Get some, but not enough vitamin D, and over the course of a lifetime your bones slowly lose calcium until they no longer can support your weight, yet there are no tell-tale signs in the meantime. •If your multi or calcium does not have at least 1000 IU of vitamin D, then consider a separate vitamin D supplement since you can’t get enough from food and optimal intake is associated with lowered risk for muscle weakness, gum disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, hypertension and certain cancers, including colon, breast, pancreas, and prostate cancers. The irony is that if you ask people how they think they are doing diet-wise, most people will tell you they know they don’t eat perfectly, but feel they do OK. I’ve found that most people are misguided. In fact, 99 out of 100 people don’t meet even minimum standards of a balanced diet, according to FDA data, yet nine out of 10 think they are doing pretty well. •If you don’t consume at least two servings a week of fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, or herring, then take a DHA omega-3 supplement. You need at least 220mg of DHA, and possibly up to 900mg/day to lower the risk for heart disease (the number one killer for both men and women), depression and possibly even lower Alzheimer’s risk by 70 percent. Marginal deficiency symptoms are subtle, but they can have a significant long-term impact. For instance, low vitamin B12 leads to memory loss and low intake of folic acid can contribute to cancer, as well as memory problems and birth defects. One obvious sign that you may not be meeting the recommended daily amounts of the essentials is your mood food and mood go hand in hand. As I always point out, if you don’t feel great, then take a look at your plate. You may need to add a few extra servings of colorful fruits and vegetables and a supplement program to help boost your nutrition and mood. I have a four-step supplement program to make sure we are combating marginal deficiencies and supplementing responsibly. •Select a broad-range multiple that supplies as close to 100 percent, but no more than 300 percent, of the Daily Value for a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. A multiple should complement an excellent diet and fill in the gaps on days when you don’t eat perfectly. It’s not a substitute for a healthy diet, it’s a supplement. The ‘100 Years of Vitamins’ campaign – and in particular the Basel Symposium – has served as an important platform to discuss the role of vitamins in human health, bringing together professionals and experts to look at how vitamins help with health and wellbeing. •Add a separate calcium plus magnesium supplement. You need calcium to keep your bones, skin, nerves, and 3 Table of Content Die Renaissance der Vitamine Donnerstag Badische Zeitung — 16 August 2012 25 Rep. Pallone Honors 100th Anniversary of Vitamins 26 September 2012 27 DSM marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins 7 Penton Insight — 23 January 2012 Congress recognizes 100th anniversary of the vitamin Nutraingredients – 27 Septemeber 2012 27 DSM Highlights 100 Years of Vitamins The Poultry Site — 24 January 2012 8 100 Years of Vitamins Elizabeth Somer KOIB-TV CBS Portland — 17 October 2012 (VIDEO) 28 100 years of vitamins highlighted by DSM GFMTvlogspot.be – 1 February 2012 9 100 Years of Vitamins Elizabeth Somer WHUD-FM New York — 22 October 2012 (AUDIO) 28 100 Years of Vitamins WPFO FOX Portland ME (VIDEO) 28 11 100 Years Vitamins Wall street journal (AUDIO) 28 12 Global population demands, ‘confusing’ media coverage and the 100 year old vitamin nutraingredients-usa.com — 19 November 2012 12 Vitamins Celebrate 100 Years! directsellingnews.com — 19 November 2012 29 Belangstelling voor vitamines neemt na 100 jaar weer Voeding nu — 30 November 2012 31 100 YEARS DSM’s Sight and Life publishes history of battle against micronutrient deficiencies Penton Insight – 9 February 2012 Vitamins Celebrate 100 Years TrueHealth.com — 14 February 2012 DSM initiative publishes history of the global battle against micronutrient deficiencies Asia Food Journal — 29 February 2012 DSM Highlights 100 Years of Vitamins China Chemical Reporter — 7 March 2012 6 9 Clayton Ajello Celebrates with Sight and Life in Switzerland 13 Vitaminangels.org — 13 March 2012 Vitamins Discovered 100 Years Ago EQUInews.com — 4 April 2012 14 100 years of vitamins for a brighter world PETS International — 13 April 2012 14 Piece from Chinese Nutrition Society China Food Newspaper — 17 April 2012 14 Der Mensch bleibt ein Gewohnheitstier Aargauer Zeitung — 8 May 2012 14 100 years of vitamins Innovations in Food Technology — May 2012 14 100 Jahre Vitamine...und immer noch topaktuell BAZ Life Sciences — 12 May 2012 15 Commentary Series Tackling Poverty with Nutrition Innovations globalfoodforthought — 5 December 2012 28 31 “4 Steps to Choosing the Right Vitamins, Supplements” NBC Today Show — 14 January 2013 (VIDEO) 32 VITAMIN A 33 Preventing blindness and saving lives with vitamin A Vitaminangels.org — 11 October 2012 34 VITAMIN B 35 UU vitamin research combats stroke risk BBC News — 11 May 2012 36 INTERVIEW: DSM - 100 Years of Vitamins and Further Optimization of Animal Nutrition Feedinfo News Service — 22 May 2012 16 B-Vitamine halten geistig fit Ärzte Zeitung — 21 May 2012 36 DSM conmemora los 100 años del descubrimiento de las vitaminas Eurocarne — 24 May 2012 18 VITAMIN D 38 100 Years of Vitamins: Adequate Intake in the Elderly Is Still a Matter of Concern Lindamentar.blogspot.com — 30 May 2012 Nur hoch dosiertes Vitamin D kann Frakturen verhindern 5 July 2012 39 18 Hüftbruch: Volle Vitamin D-Kraft voraus krm-media.de — 5 July 2012 39 19 Brüchige Knochen Speiegel.de — 9 July 2012 40 Micronutrients: The smartest investment the world can make 19 Globalpost.com — 8 June 2012 Vitamin-D-Mangel: Risiko für Senioren ab 60 Mercure Magazine — 11 July 2012 41 100 Jahre Vitamine ... und immer noch topaktuell CH-D Wirtschaft — July 2012 20 CRN celebrates 100 years of vitamins Drug Store News — 19 July 2012 21 Altersmediziner empfehlen Vitamin D als Nahrungsergänzung nächste Meldung Innovations Report — 11 July 2012 Age Matters: Vitamins for Every Life Stage Journal Sentinel — 3 August 2012 22 Nur viel Vitamin D schützt vor Knochenbrüchen Dradio.de — 12 July 2012 43 Warning Signs of a Bad Diet Elizabethsomerblog.com — 15 August 2012 23 Vitamin D macht Knochen im Alter stabil DIE BILD — 13 July 2012 44 Keimzelle der industriellen Vitamin Produktion Region Basel Badische Zeitung — 16 August 2012 24 Senioren: Viel Vitamin D macht die Knochen stabil netdoktor.de — 13 July 2012 45 100 Years of Vitamins Journal of Nutrition Cover — 1 June 2012 4 42 Das Sonnenvitamin macht die Knochen stark gesund-durch — 28 August 2012 46 Vitamins and dietary supplements too much of a good thing? The Science would suggest not… 69 Nutra-Ingridients — 3 August 2012 47 Study highlights low dietary vitamin intakes Food and Beverage Reporter — August 2012 71 Vitamin D insufficiency stats reveal a bleak picture FoodBev.com — 3 September 2012 48 Vitamins You Need At Every Age KATU — 20 August 2012 72 Bringing the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’ Out of the Shadows HuffingtonPost — 3 September 2012 49 Vitamins women need most SheKnows — 4 September 2012 73 Nutraceuticals what can be achieved today Nutraceuticals Now — 27 September 2012 74 Breaking Down Silos: Integrating Nutrition For Impact Global Health and Diplomacy – Fall 2012 74 Americans and Europeans Don’t Get Enough Vitamins Muscle & Body — 1 October 2012 76 What Should a World of Nine Billion People Look Like? The Huffington Post — 15 October 2012 77 International Osteoporosis Foundation launches vitamin D map NutraIngredients.com — 3 September Majority of adults risk bone health from chronic Vitamin D deficiency Elixir News — 3 September 2012 50 Global vitamin D map launched DSM calls for urgent action to address major public health issue FoodBeverageAsia — 4 September 2012 51 Internationale Osteoporose Stichting lanceert online Vitamine D 52 Voeding Nu — 5 September 2012 DSM und die Internationale Osteoporose Foundation Krm-media.de — September 2012 54 Vitamin D insufficiency is a major public health issue Nutri-facts.org — 14 September 2012 55 DSM und die Internationale Osteoporose Foundation cityblick24 56 IOF launches global vitamin D map Posted on Asia food journal gesund - durch — 19 October 2012 57 Vitamin D Status Weltkarte erstellt (vitamin D map launch, see attached) 58 VITAMIN E 59 Forgotten vitamin would help cut premature births ‘by 30%’ Food Manucfacture.co.uk — 17 October 2012 60 OLYMPIC NUTRITION 61 DSM Backs Dutch and German Olympians with Nutrient Solutions Nutra-Ingredients.com — 24 July 2012 62 DSM and Dutch Olympic Committee Partner on “Optimum Sports Nutrition” Nutritionhorizon.com — 24 July 2012 62 Forgotten vitamin would help cut premature births ‘by 30%’78 Food Manucfacture.co.uk — 17 October 2012 Scaling up nutrition with public and private partnerships79 africareview.com — 9 November 2012 Africa: Development Targets Ride on Vitamins allafrica.com — 26 November 2012 81 Rice Fortification: The ‘Game Changer’ in Helping Solve Malnutrition and Poverty? 82 Huffpost Lifestyle — 27 November 2012 Development Targets Ride on Vitamins Interpress service — 27 November 2012 Looking forward: The emerging evidence for vitamins and health nutraingredients.com — 28 November 2012 Harnessing the power of vitamins to prevent wellness foodbev.com — 3 December 2012 84 86 87 Vitamine: Die beste Dosis für die Gesundheit / Zukunftsvision der Vitaminforschung ist die perfekt ausgewogene individuelle Versorgung mit Vitaminen für einen optimal funktionierenden Körper 88 Bloomberg — 4 December 2012. Vitamins: The best dose for health The future vision of vitamin research is a perfectly balanced individual vitamin intake for an optimally functioning body Bloomberg — 4 December 2012. DSM helps Dutch athletes go for Olympic gold Food Product Design — 25 July 2012 63 GENERAL VITAMINS 64 Health & Wellnes – The industry view: Dr. Manfred Eggersdorf, DSM Senior VP, nutrition and Science Advocacy 90 foodingredientsfirst.com — 4 December 2012. 65 Interview with Dr. Klaus Kraemer on Tackling Malnutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies Globalfoodforthought — 12 December 2012 Dietary surveys indicate vitamin intakes below recommendations are common in representative Western countries British Journal of Nutrition — 13 June 2012 Changing Lives with Vitamin Angels Blog.Wholefoodsmarket.com — 21 July 2012 DSM research reveals ‘inadequate’ vitamin intake in Europe and USA Nutra-Ingridients — 21 June 2012 66 Dietary vitamin intakes using “traffic lights” suggest widespread inadequacies in Europe, US Asia Food Journal — 26 June 2012 67 Vitamin-D-Mangel: Risiko für Senioren ab 60 Mercure Magazine – 11 July 2012 We can’t address food security without addressing nutrition security The Economist Group Management Thinking Blog — 13 December 2012 65 68 5 89 92 94 100 years 6 DSM marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins Vitamins are also vital for animal nutrition and health. A diet rich in vitamins and essential micronutrients is vital for animal production and ensures that animals remain healthy throughout their lifecycle, which is central to the sustainability and efficiency of the food chain as well as to the welfare of the animals themselves. In a world facing growing global demand for animal protein, DSM works with leading institutions worldwide researching and developing optimum animal nutrition, and it delivers essential vitamin premix solutions to its customers to support the increasing demand for animal protein, as well as to benefit the health and sustainability of the food chain as a whole. Penton Insight 23 January 2012 The last century has witnessed remarkable discoveries and research that have advanced understanding of vitamins and their vital role in health and wellness. In 1912, the Polish biochemist Casimir Funk isolated the first vitamin (B1) from rice bran. At that time, European rice hulling machines were brought to Asia to process rice. However, the hulling process stripped the rice of its vital nutritional elements. As a consequence, new health problems began emerging among the people and animals who relied upon rice as a staple food. Symptoms included weakness, fatigue, and as the condition progressed, apathia, polyneuropathy, paralysis, cardiomyopathy and heart failure. This dietary deficiency disease is now known as beriberi. Funk realized that a compound inside of the rice bran that had been removed in the hulling process could in fact cure patients. He gave the substance he discovered the name “vitamine” — a combination of “vita” (Latin for “life”) and “amine” (= nitrogen compound). For 100 years the word “vitamin” has been an umbrella term for a group of essential, organic micronutrients that play a range of vital roles in our bodies. The majority of vitamins cannot be directly produced by the body and must therefore be obtained through dietary means (exceptions: niacin and vitamin D). If vitamin intakes are insufficient, it can result in serious health problems. Despite extensive knowledge now available on the crucial role of vitamins in the body, vitamin inadequacies are not yet merely the topic of history books: even today, billions of people do not have sufficient intakes of essential micronutrients compared to recommendations. Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice-President Nutrition Science & Advocacy at DSM commented: “At DSM, we are proud to have been part of the vitamin journey for human nutrition and health, animal nutrition and health, and personal care, and we are committed to further scientific advancements in these fields for generations to come.” 100 years of vitamins for a brighter world In 1912, the world first learned about ‘vitamins’, a term coined by Casimir Funk to describe bioactive substances essential for human and animal health. The past century has witnessed remarkable discoveries that have advanced our understanding of vitamins and their vital role in health and wellness. DSM, the global leader in vitamins, is proud to have been part of this vitamin journey and is committed to making further scientific advances for generations to come. DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living. ™ Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM’s 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about € 9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com In many developing countries, people do not have access to vitamin-rich foods, which leads to high mortality rates and serious health problems. However, even closer to home, in the world of abundant and modern lifestyles, inadequate vitamin intakes are also surprisingly common. DSM works in partnership with other organizations, such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), to help close up the gaps in essential micronutrient intakes and promote the essential role of micronutrients in promoting health. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 7 100 years DSM Highlights 100 Years of Vitamins In many developing countries, people do not have access to vitamin-rich foods, which leads to high mortality rates and serious health problems. However, even closer to home, in the world of abundant and modern lifestyles, inadequate vitamin intakes are also surprisingly common. DSM works in partnership with other organizations, such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), to help close up the gaps in essential micronutrient intakes and promote the essential role of micronutrients in promoting health. The Poultry Site 24 January 2012 GLOBAL - The year 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins. In 1912, a scientist named Casimir Funk coined the term “vitamins” to describe bioactive substances essential for human and animal health. In the years that followed, a series of scientific breakthroughs were made that identified 13 vitamins and explored many of their functions in the body. Vitamins are also vital for animal nutrition and health. A diet rich in vitamins and essential micronutrients is vital for animal production and ensures that animals remain healthy throughout their lifecycle, which is central to the sustainability and efficiency of the food chain as well as to the welfare of the animals themselves. In a world facing growing global demand for animal protein, DSM works with leading institutions worldwide researching and developing optimum animal nutrition, and it delivers essential vitamin premix solutions to its customers to support the increasing demand for animal protein, as well as to benefit the health and sustainability of the food chain as a whole. The last century has witnessed remarkable discoveries and research that have advanced understanding of vitamins and their vital role in health and wellness. In 1912, the Polish biochemist Casimir Funk isolated the first vitamin (B1) from rice bran. At that time, European rice hulling machines were brought to Asia to process rice. However, the hulling process stripped the rice of its vital nutritional elements. As a consequence, new health problems began emerging among the people and animals who relied upon rice as a staple food. Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice-President Nutrition Science & Advocacy at DSM commented: “At DSM, we are proud to have been part of the vitamin journey for human nutrition and health, animal nutrition and health, and personal care, and we are committed to further scientific advancements in these fields for generations to come.” Symptoms included weakness, fatigue, and as the condition progressed, apathia, polyneuropathy, paralysis, cardiomyopathy and heart failure. This dietary deficiency disease is now known as beriberi. Funk realized that a compound inside of the rice bran that had been removed in the hulling process could in fact cure patients. He gave the substance he discovered the name “vitamine” - a combination of “vita” (Latin for “life”) and “amine” (= nitrogen compound). For 100 years the word “vitamin” has been an umbrella term for a group of essential, organic micronutrients that play a range of vital roles in our bodies. The majority of vitamins cannot be directly produced by the body and must therefore be obtained through dietary means (exceptions: niacin and vitamin D). If vitamin intakes are insufficient, it can result in serious health problems. Despite extensive knowledge now available on the crucial role of vitamins in the body, vitamin inadequacies are not yet merely the topic of history books: even today, billions of people do not have sufficient intakes of essential micronutrients compared to recommendations. 100 years 8 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 100 years of vitamins highlighted by DSM GFMTblogspot.be DSM’s Sight and Life publishes history of battle against micronutrient deficiencies 1 February 2012 Penton Insight 9 February 2012 The year 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins. In 1912, a scientist named Casimir Funk coined the term “vitamins” to describe bioactive substances essential for human and animal health. In the years that followed, a series of scientific breakthroughs were made that identified 13 vitamins and explored many of their functions in the body. The last century has witnessed remarkable discoveries and research that have advanced understanding of vitamins and their vital role in health and wellness. Entitled Micronutrients, Macro Impact: The story of vitamins and a hungry world, this book tells how, for the past 25 years, Sight and Life has championed the battle against hidden hunger among theworld’s poorest and most vulnerable populations. The book launch will take place on 10th February2012 at the headquarters of DSM Nutritional Products in Switzerland, within the wider frameworkof DSM’s celebration of 100 Years of Vitamins in 2012. In 1912, the Polish biochemist Casimir Funk isolated the first vitamin (B1) from rice bran. At that time, European rice hulling machines were brought to Asia to process rice. However, the hulling process stripped the rice of its vital nutritional elements. As a consequence, new health problems began emerging among the people and animals who relied upon rice as a staple food. The term ‘vitamines’ was coined a hundred years ago by the Polish biochemist Casimir Funk to describea group of bioactive substances essential for health. As the world’s leading producer of vitamins, DSM isleading the way in celebrating the first hundred years of vitamin science and initiating the nexthundred years of developments in this field. This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers. Micronutrients, Macro Impact recounts the first quartercentury of Sight and Life’s existence. Drawingon documentary evidence as well as recent interviews with leading thinkers in the micronutrient arena,it explains the vital importance of micronutrients and makes a powerful plea for using these vitalsubstances to help build healthier, more prosperous, and more sustainable societies. The publication of Micronutrients, Macro Impact is one of a wide range of activities underscoring DSM’scommitment to the next century of vitamin science. The book launch in Kaiseraugst, Switzerland, willbe followed by a minisymposium on Micronutrients: From the Past to the Future with participantsfrom Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Groupe de Recherche et d‘Echange Technologique(GRET), the Universities of Hohenheim, Newcastle & Ulster, and Vitamin Angels, as well as DSM, Sightand Life and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Dr. Klaus Kraemer, Director Sight and Life, concludes: “If we have learned anything over the past 25 years, it is that all relevant stakeholders must work together to solve the problems of a hungry world– scientists, visionaries, policymakers, governments and non-governmental organizations,philanthropist and the private sector.” 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 9 100 years DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living. ™ Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. Byconnecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economicprosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets suchas food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive,paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM’s22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about € 9 billion. The company is listed on NYSEEuronext. On February 8th DSM was sponsoring the Economist conference Feeding the World: The 9-billion peoplequestion in Geneva, Switzerland, at which the keynote speech was made by Graziano da Silva, theDirector General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Stephan Tanda, DSM Managing Board Member with responsibility for DSM’s Nutrition activities, comments: “Micronutrients, Macro Impact clearly shows that our work to advance the science of vitamins is more important than ever. Working together with a wide range of stakeholders has brought the opportunity to sustainably improve the nutritional status of millions of people within reach. Turning this possibility into a reality requires also the engagement and support of the public at large. We hope that Micronutrients, Macro Impact will help rally this support and is a great example for the positive change that Sight and Life has championed for the past 25 years.” More information can be found at www.dsm.com. About SIGHT AND LIFE Sight and Life is a humanitarian initiative of DSM and a well respected nutrition think tank. We careabout the world’s most vulnerable populations, and exist to help improve their nutritional status.Acting as their advocates, we guide original nutrition research, disseminate its findings and facilitatedialog to bring about positive change. We believe that the right mix of funding, knowledge, technologyand policy will lead to better health. We work through advocacy and leadership to address societalchanges affecting dietary quality. We act responsibly to disseminate information that reflects currentknowledge and evolving scientific evidence. We also aim to promote partnerships that are able to solveoutstanding problems. www.sightandlife.org 100 years of vitamins for a brighter world In 1912, the world first learned about ‘vitamins’, a term coined by Casimir Funk to describe bioactivesubstances essential for human and animal health. The past century has witnessed remarkablediscoveries that have advanced our understanding of vitamins and their vital role in health andwellness. DSM, the global leader in vitamins, is proud to have been part of this vitamin journey and is committed to making further scientific advances for generations to come. 100 years 10 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamins Celebrate 100 Years • Vitamin K—Supports healthy blood clotting and coagulation. Vitamin K can be found naturally in liver, cereals, and members of the cabbage family. TrueHealth.com 14 February 2012 It’s important to eat a balanced meal—rich with fresh produce, lean meat, nuts, and whole grains—to be sure you’re consuming a variety of vitamins every day. Without them, your body would struggle to maintain its status as a well-oiled machine, and your health would dwindle. If you’ve been looking for an occasion to celebrate, what better occasion than great health? You’re well and active—largely thanks to the vitamins you consume, whether in supplement form or from the food you eat. And while celebrating, take a moment to recognize this: 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins! But sometimes there’s just no time to prepare fresh, healthy meals. I’ve been there too! Frozen food becomes convenient and can even trick your taste buds into satisfaction if you train them just right. That’s right—in 1912, a biochemist named Casimir Funk coined the term “vitamin” when he isolated vitamin B1 from rice bran. You’ve heard the term vitamin before—you may even be taking vitamins every day—but do you really know what vitamins are? They’re organic substances that are essential for proper nutrition for people, animals, and even some plants. Vitamins are found in many natural foods, and your body even produces several types of vitamins, but not enough of what you need. That’s why supplementation is so important! There are 13 types of vitamins, many of which fall into the vitamin B category. I know what you’re thinking—that adds up to way to many pills to take each day. That’s why multivitamins—like Ultimate Multi-Complete—are great for overall wellness, but if you’re looking for specific benefits, here’s a breakdown of what vitamins can do for you: Here’s an idea that I started doing myself. I go grocery shopping over the weekend and buy plenty of fresh fruit, and then early in the week I wash it all thoroughly and chop it up into a big fruit salad. That way, whatever I end up eating for a meal as the week goes on, I at least can top it off with healthy fruit salad, chock full of vitamins and nutrients! If you’re looking to supplement with vitamins, be sure to visit our sister company, Vitamin Research Products. VRP has a wide variety of single vitamins so you can give your body extra support where you need it most. We’d love to hear from you! How do you get your daily dose of vitamins? • Vitamin A—Supports healthy teeth, skin, and vision. Vitamin A can be found naturally in carrots, kale, broccoli, dairy products, and meat. • B vitamins—Supports your heart, nervous system, red blood cell production, and maintains energy. The vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12) can be found naturally in grains, green vegetables, fish, beans, and dairy products. • Vitamin C—Supports immune defense, healthy teeth and gums, and provides antioxidant protection. Vitamin C can be found naturally in citrus fruits, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, and many other fruits and veggies, notably strawberries. • Vitamin D—Support strong bones, healthy teeth, and aids in calcium absorption. Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” D3 is produced in the body when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D can be found naturally in fish, egg yolk, dairy products, and from 10-15 minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) each day. • Vitamin E—Supports red blood cell production and provides antioxidant protection. Vitamin E can be found naturally in whole grains, leafy greens, and nuts. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings http://www.truehealth.com/blog/healthy-perspectives-vitaminanniversary.aspx 11 100 years DSM initiative publishes history of the global battle against micronutrient deficiencies DSM Highlights 100 Years of Vitamins Asia Food Journal 7 March 2012 China Chemical Reporter 29 February 2012 The year 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins. In 1912, a scientist named Casimir Funk coined the term “vitamins” to describe bioactive substances essential for human and animal health. In the years that followed, a series of scientific breakthroughs were made that identified 13 vitamins and explored many of their functions in the body. The last century has witnessed remarkable discoveries and research that have advanced understanding of vitamins and their vital role in health and wellness. Sight and Life, the humanitarian initiative of DSM and a nutrition think tank has launched a book that documents the history of the global battle against micronutrient deficiencies in its Switzerland headquarters. Entitled Micronutrients, Macro Impact: The story of vitamins and a hungry world, the book tells how, for the past 25 years, Sight and Life has championed the battle against hidden hunger among the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations. The book launch took place on February 10, 2012 at the headquarters of DSM Nutritional Products in Switzerland, within the wider framework of the company’s celebration of 100 Years of Vitamins in 2012. For 100 years the word “vitamin” has been an umbrella term for a group of essential, organic micronutrients that play a range of vital roles in our bodies. The majority of vitamins cannot be directly produced by the body and must therefore be obtained through dietary means (exceptions: niacin and vitamin D). If vitamin intakes are insufficient, it can result in serious health problems. Despite extensive knowledge now available on the crucial role of vitamins in the body, vitamin inadequacies are not yet merely the topic of history books: even today, billions of people do not have sufficient intakes of essential micronutrients compared to recommendations. The term ‘vitamines’ was coined a hundred years ago by the Polish biochemist Casimir Funk to describe a group of bioactive substances essential for health. Drawing on documentary evidence as well as recent interviews with experts in the micronutrient arena, the book explains the vital importance of micronutrients and makes a powerful plea for using these vital substances to help build healthier, more prosperous and sustainable societies. In many developing countries, people do not have access to vitamin-rich foods, which leads to high mortality rates and serious health problems. However, even closer to home, in the world of abundant and modern lifestyles, inadequate vitamin intakes are also surprisingly common. DSM works in partnership with other organizations, such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), to help close up the gaps in essential micronutrient intakes and promote the essential role of micronutrients in promoting health. The book launch was followed by a mini-symposium with participants from Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Groupe de Recherche et d‘Echange Technologique, the Universities of Hohenheim, Newcastle & Ulster, and Vitamin Angels, as well as DSM, Sight and Life and the United Nations World Food Programme. Vitamins are also vital for animal nutrition and health. In a world facing growing global demand for animal protein, DSM works with leading institutions worldwide researching and developing optimum animal nutrition, and it delivers essential vitamin premix solutions to its customers to support the increasing demand for animal protein, as well as to benefit the health and sustainability of the food chain as a whole. http://www.asiafoodjournal.com/article/dsm-initiativepublishes-history-of-the-global-battle-against-micronutrientdeficiencies/8187 100 years 12 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Clayton Ajello Celebrates with Sight and Life in Switzerland Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice-President Nutrition Science & Advocacy at DSM commented: “At DSM, we are proud to have been part of the vitamin journey for human nutrition and health, animal nutrition and health, and personal care, and we are committed to further scientific advancements in these fields for generations to come.” Vitaminangels.org 13 March 2012 Our technical partner, Sight and Life (the well-respected nutrition think tank humanitarian initiative of DSM) turned 25 this February! To celebrate, Sight and Life recently sponsored a symposium on “100 Years of Vitamins”. The symposium’s speakers recapped important past and current developments in the discovery and deployment of essential micronutrients. In addition, Sight and Life marked this milestone with the launch of a new book: Micronutrients, Macro Impact: The Story of Vitamins and a Hungry World, describing their history battling hidden hunger. The book launch was held February 10 at the headquarters of DSM Nutritional Products in Switzerland and Vitamin Angels’ Senior Technical Advisor, Clayton Ajello, DRPH, MPH was there to join the celebration: “The Sight and Life sponsored symposium is an appropriate reminder of the important and ongoing contributions made by Sight and Life to raise awareness to hidden hunger and to their role in facilitating practical solutions to connect essential micronutrients to populations at-risk – especially children who reside in families that occupy the lowest 30% of the income pyramid.” Sight and Life recently transferred to Vitamin Angels “the responsibility for both the management of direct distribution of vitamin A and Sight and Life’s initiatives intended to catalyze locally sustainable vitamin A supply and distribution systems.” We congratulate Sight and Life on 25 years of contributions to the cause of alleviating hidden hunger, and look forward to our ongoing partnership with Sight and Life. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 13 100 years Vitamins Discovered 100 Years Ago 100 years of vitamins for a brighter world EQUInews.com PETS International 4 April 2012 13 April 2012 Vitamins have been around for a long time, but the term “vitamin” and an appreciation of the importance of these substances dates back only about a hundred years. In 1912, the world first learned about ‘vitamins’, a term coined by Casimir Funk to describe bioactive substances essential to human and animal health. The past century witnessed remarkable discoveries, which have advanced our understanding of vitamins and their vital role in health and wellness. DSM is proud to have been part of this vitamin journey and is committed to making further scientific advances for generations to come. In 1912, Casimir Funk, a Polish biochemist, realized that the increase in cases of the nutritional deficiency disease beri-beri coincided with the practice of polishing the bran layer off rice kernels, a staple food in Asia. Isolating a curative substance from the rice bran, he called it a “vitamine,” combining terms denoting nitrogen compounds and life. Other scientists isolated several similar compounds that were included in the grouping. Vitamins are defined as organic substances that are necessary for the proper nutrition of plants and animals. Ingested in minute quantities, vitamins act as coenzymes and precursors of coenzymes in the regulation of many metabolic processes. Some vitamins must be provided by food, while others are produced within the body. Not all animals are able to produce the same vitamins, which is one reason feeds designed for one species are not necessarily suitable for another type of animal. Broadly classified as water-soluble or fat-soluble, many vitamins are available from the forages and grains eaten by horses. To be certain your horse is getting the vitamins necessary for health, provide access to fresh grass or recently baled hay as well as a fortified grain product. The full article (or download) is available for subscribers to the PETS International. Piece from Chinese Nutrition Society China Food Newspaper 17 April 2012 In Chinese – full article attached in PDF. Mentions vitamin celebration event in Shanghai. Manfred Eggersdorfer pictured. http://www.aspectconsulting.eu/en/?LinkServID=0C7E8DB9D39B-E22B-28F2524599388E40 Der Mensch bleibt ein Gewohnheitstier Aargauer Zeitung http://www.equinews.com/article/vitamins-discovered-100years-ago 8 May 2012 The PDF contains an article on the 100 years of vitamins from the Aargauer Zeitung. http://www.aspectconsulting.eu/en/?LinkServID=DFE89A30FED3-260F-B00990D311F61FEC 100 years of vitamins Innovations in Food Technology May 2012 Article and ad in the PDF below. http://www.aspectconsulting.eu/en/?LinkServID=0CCB4751C889-E14B-875626C89C78BBCF 100 years 14 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 100 Jahre Vitamine...und immer noch topaktuell sein. In zahlreichen Entwicklungsländern ist Vitaminmangel ein Problem. Denn stehen den Menschen nicht ausreichend vitaminhaltige Nahrungsmittel zur Verfügung, führt dies früher oder später zu offenkundigen Erkrankungen, Entwicklungsstörungen oder gar erhöhten Sterblichkeitsraten. Man spricht hier vom Hidden Hunger, vom versteckten Hunger. Zahlreiche Organisationen und Unternehmen haben es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, diesen Zustand zu beheben. Zu diesen Unternehmen gehört auch DSM, der Vitamin-Marktführer sowie weltweit das einzige Unternehmen, das die Vitamine A, B, C, D, E und K selber herstellt. BAZ Life Sciences 12 May 2012 100 Jahre sind sie jung, 13 an der Zahl, lebensnotwendig für Körper und Geist - die Vitamine. Chemisch ausgedrückt sind Vitamine organische Verbindungen, die der Körper nicht selbst herstellen kann (außer Niacin und Vitamin D) und die darum über die Nahrung aufgenommen werden müssen. Und da das nicht immer in ausreichenden Mengen der Fall ist, ob aus Mangel an geeigneten Nahrungsmitteln, Gewohnheit oder schlicht Bequemlichkeit, gibt es neben den in der Natur vorkommenden Vitaminen auch die industriell hergestellten, die der Nahrung zugefügt oder in Form von Vitamintabletten eingenommen werden können. Gemeinsam mit dem United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) kämpft DSM gegen den versteckten Hunger, von dem weltweit etwa zwei Milliarden Menschen betroffen sind. Zu diesem Zweck wurde beispielsweise MixMeTM entwickelt, eine Tagesdosis von Vitaminen und Mineralien, die als Pulver über gekochten Reis, Mais usw. gestreut werden kann, ohne dass sich Aussehen und Geschmack des Nahrungsmittels ändern. Das Problem existiert allerdings nicht nur in den Entwicklungsländern, sondern auch in der industrialisierten Welt, wo man es eher nicht vermuten würde. Studien haben gezeigt, dass viele europäische Verbraucher nicht ausreichend vitamin- und nährstoffreiche Nahrung zu sich nehmen, obwohl diese überall zugänglich ist. Das liegt teilweise daran, dass wir oft viel aber nicht immer richtig essen. Zum anderen liegt es an unserem modernen Lebensstil, in welchem die frische Zubereitung von Mahlzeiten manchmal zu kurz kommt. Die Auswirkungen sind nicht sofort als schwerer Vitaminmangel erkennbar, haben aber langfristig einen negativen Einfluss auf Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden. Dennoch zeichnet sich ein allgemeiner Trend zu gesundem Leben ab, dem immer mehr Menschen folgen, und dazu gehört untrennbar auch eine vernünftige Versorgung mit Vitaminen. Die Geschichte der Vitamine beginnt mit der Einführung neuer Reisschältechnologien im asiatischen Raum zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts. Da dem Reis beim Schälen lebensnotwendige Nährstoffe entzogen worden waren, litten die Menschen in der Folge an einer Mangelerkrankung, mit der verschiedene Symptome von Kräfteverlust bis hin zu Lähmungserscheinungen einhergingen. Diese Krankheit nannte man Beriberi. Nachdem er über diese Krankheit gelesen hatte, forschte der polnische Biochemiker Casimir Funk – wie auch viele andere Wissenschaftler - nach einem geeigneten Gegenmittel. Schließlich gelang es ihm, in der Reiskleie einen aktiven Stoff zu identifizieren, mit dem die Patienten geheilt werden konnten. Er nannte diesen Stoff 1912 erstmals „Vitamine“ — zusammengesetzt aus Vita (lat. = Leben) und Amine (= Stickstoffverbindung). Letzteres basierte auf der später widerlegten Annahme, dass Stickstoffverbindungen das kennzeichnende Merkmal dieser neuen Stoffgruppe seien, während heute allgemein anerkannt ist, dass Vitamine lebensnotwendig sind. Entgegen den Erwartungen ging der erste Nobelpreis für Arbeiten zu Vitaminen im Jahr 1929 nicht an Casimir Funk, sondern an den Niederländer Christiaan Eijkman und den Engländer Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins für die Entdeckung des Anti-Beriberi Vitamin B1. Neben dem Bedienen weltweit wachsender Märkte stehen bei DSM Forschung und Wissenschaft im Vordergrund. „Wir investieren jährlich über 100 Millionen Euro in die Innovation“, erklärt Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President Nutrition Science & Advocacy von DSM Nutritional Products mit Sitz in Kaiseraugst bei Basel. „Auch die allgemeine Aufklärung über Vitamine - wie ist der Versorgungsstatus, wo liegen die optimalen Zufuhrmengen, wie beugen wir mit ihrer Hilfe gegen Krankheiten vor - sind für uns wichtig. Seit nunmehr 100 Jahren ist die Bezeichnung „Vitamine“ ein Oberbegriff für eine Gruppe essentieller, organischer Mikronährstoffe, die in unserem Körper zahlreiche wichtige Aufgaben haben und die unser Organismus nicht selbst herstellen kann. Vitamine müssen mit der Nahrung aufgenommen werden; und ist die Zufuhr nicht ausreichend, können schwerwiegende Mangelerscheinungen die Folge 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 15 100 years Aktuell arbeiten wir z.B. an Vitamin-Mangel-Weltkarten, die einen Überblick darüber geben, in welchen Ländern die Menschen unterversorgt sind“, erklärt er weiter. INTERVIEW: DSM - 100 Years of Vitamins and Further Optimization of Animal Nutrition Die Folgen eines solchen Mangels sind nicht nur für die direkt Betroffenen, sondern, beispielsweise in Form erheblicher Zusatzkosten in unserem Gesundheitssystem, auch in Ländern mit einer grundsätzlich guten Lebensmittelversorgung bzw. relativ hohem Wohlstand nicht zu vernachlässigen. Obwohl der Begriff Vitamine seit hundert Jahren existiert, sind Vitamine immer noch topaktuell und werden dies aufgrund ihrer Lebensnotwendigkeit auch bleiben. 22 May 2012 Feedinfo News Service 22 May 2012 - The year 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins as bioactive substances essential for human and animal health. In 1912, Polish biochemist Casimir Funk isolated the first vitamin (B1) from rice bran. At the time, European rice hulling machines were brought to Asia to process rice. However, the hulling process stripped the rice of its vital nutritional elements. Funk realized that a compound inside the rice bran that had been removed in the hulling process could in fact cure patients. He gave the substance he discovered the name “vitamine” - a combination of “vita” (Latin for “life”) and “amine” (= nitrogen compound). Over the last century, a series of scientific breakthroughs were made that identified 13 vitamins and explored their vital role in health and wellness nutrition. Numerous published studies also demonstrated the importance of vitamins for animal nutrition and health. These all show that a diet rich in vitamins and essential micronutrients is vital for commercial animal production and ensures that animals remain healthy and profitable throughout their lifecycle, which is central to the sustainability and efficiency of the food chain as well as to the welfare of the animals themselves. DSM, which has been part of the vitamin journey for Animal Nutrition and Health, Human Nutrition and Health, and Personal Care for over 80 years, recently published the 12th edition of the “DSM Vitamin Supplementation Guidelines”, which provides a summary of best scientific research and industry practices in meeting the vitamin needs of animals under sustainable commercial and profitable production. These guidelines 100 years 16 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Dr. Litta goes on to say that the cost of optimizing vitamin supplementation following DSM guidelines is relatively small, amounting to less than 1.5% of total diet cost and can provide a return on investment of up to 4 to 1. are recognized as the feed industry’s key reference tool on “Optimum Vitamin Nutrition” (OVN™ - a DSM concept) levels since the appearance of the 1st edition in 1958. Dr. Gilberto Litta, Global Category Manager Vitamins Marketing Animal Nutrition and Health at DSM states that the optimization of vitamins in animal diets is even more relevant today as recommendations for vitamin supplementation levels currently used in the industry are sometimes outdated, and, therefore, do not match the biological and feeding requirements of modern and more genetically-advanced animals compared to some years ago. Consequently, animals can underperform when considering parameters designed by genetics specialists. He views the 100th anniversary as a good reason to re-iterate the importance of vitamins in animal nutrition. Asked whether or not markets are today still under-utilizing vitamins in animal diets, Dr. Litta argues that livestock industries show different levels of maturity and growth according to where they are located. He comments: “There are different requirements in the industry and also different perceptions. Some see vitamins as more of a cost rather than as a benefit for healthy production. We have customers who just target the minimum requirements for supplementation, whereas other customers understand better the concept of optimum vitamin supplementation and the profit you obtain from increased animal performance and the resulting financial returns. Dr. Litta states: “The 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins is an important milestone in the history of science. Although vitamins are not a new topic in the animal industry, it is, today, no more the question of having vitamins in the feed or not, but the question of optimizing the productivity and the health of animals as well as the quality of animal origin foods”. “We need to find ways to feed a growing population with an increased demand for animal protein, but with fewer resources. Livestock industry production efficiencies have also significantly increased over time, resulting in increased animal metabolic demands and the need for vitamins, which play a part in energy metabolism, cell integrity, fertility... Modern strains show improved efficiency with lesser feed intake. Nutrient levels must be adjusted accordingly and this has to be done also for vitamins. A 1% adjustment each year has for example been proposed for laying hens (Leeson, 2007). With the OVN™ concept we aim exactly for that”, he adds. “There is still great potential to improve animal performance globally. Optimum Vitamin Nutrition is a sound way of doing so in all industries”. http://www.feedinfo.com/console/PageViewer. aspx?page=3038529 In recent years, DSM has placed a lot of focus on communicating the benefits of its enzyme, carotenoid and eubiotic portfolio. However, in 2012 the company has increased its marketing efforts for vitamins as nutritionists are seeking more and more to optimize the efficiency of their feeding regimes. Commenting on this, Dr. Litta says: “We realized that the market tends to forget about the benefits of vitamins. Today, with a new generation of nutritionists, we believe it is necessary to reiterate the importance of vitamins and to mention the topic on a regular basis - similar to the frequency of updates of our OVN™ (Optimum Vitamin Nutrition) guidelines”. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 17 100 years DSM conmemora los 100 años del descubrimiento de las vitaminas 100 Years of Vitamins: Adequate Intake in the Elderly Is Still a Matter of Concern Eurocarne Lindamentar.blogspot.com 24 May 2012 30 May DSM commemorates the 100th anniversary of Casimir Funk’s discovery of vitamins. Demographic changes lead to an ever greater number of elderly people and mounting evidence suggests an association between vitamin status and the development of noncommunicable diseases. However, even in affluent Western countries, data from dietary intake surveys indicate that vitamin inadequacy is widespread even in healthy elderly. Changes inherent to the aging process lead to the need for increased nutrient density, which is difficult to achieve from diet alone. Where this is not sufficient to close the gap between actual vitamin intakes and recommendations, fortified foods and dietary supplements specifically targeted at the growing segment of healthy elderly can be a pragmatic solution. En 2012 se cumplen 100 años del descubrimiento de las vitaminas. En 1912, el bioquímico polaco Casimir Funk acuñó el término vitaminas para describir las sustancias esenciales para la salud de las personas y de los animales. Avances científicos posteriores, permitieron identificar 13 vitaminas y descubrir muchas de sus funciones en el organismo. Durante 100 años, el término “vitamina” se ha utilizado para designar un grupo de micronutrientes orgánicos esenciales, que desempeñan una gran diversidad de funciones vitales en nuestro organismo. La mayoría de las vitaminas no pueden ser producidas directamente por el mismo, y por tanto, deben ser incorporadas en la dieta (excepciones: niacina y vitamina D). Ya en el siglo XXI, con estilos de vida modernos, también es común la ingesta inadecuada de vitaminas. DSM colabora con organizaciones tales como el Programa de Alimentación Mundial (WFP – World Food Programme) y la Fundación Internacional de Osteoporosis (IOF), promoviendo el papel fundamental de los micronutrientes en la promoción de la salud. Por todo esto, DSM trabaja con instituciones líderes en todo el mundo, en la investigación y en el desarrollo de una nutrición animal óptima, ofreciendo soluciones a sus clientes con el suministro de premezclas de vitaminas esenciales para hacer frente a la creciente demanda de proteínas de origen animal, así como en beneficio de la salud y la sostenibilidad de la cadena alimentaria en su conjunto. En palabras de Manfred Eggersdorfer, vicepresidente senior de Nutrition Science & Advocacy en DSM “en DSM, estamos orgullosos de haber formado parte de la jornada de vitaminas para la nutrición y la salud humana, salud y nutrición animal y el cuidado personal, y estamos comprometidos a seguir científica los avances en estos campos para las generaciones venideras”. http://www.eurocarne.com/noticias. php?codigo=23950&titulo=dsm_conmemora_100_anos_ descubrimiento_vitaminas 100 years 18 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 100 Years of Vitamins Journal of Nutrition Cover Micronutrients: The smartest investment the world can make 1 June 2012 Globalpost.com 8 June 2012 Cover image: Thiamin crystal. Thiamine was one of the first of the vitamins to be characterized biochemically and crytallized in pure form. See Commentary by Troesch et al. on pages 979–980 of this issue. Photo courtesy of Peter Weber. Dr. Klaus Kraemer is Director of Sight and Life, a humanitarian initiative of DSM, committed to fighting hidden hunger— malnutrition caused by micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) deficiencies. Dr. Kraemer has over 25 years of experience in research and advocacy in the field of health and safety of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and nutraceuticals. What is the single smartest way to allocate our global aid dollars? The most cost-effective investment, proven to best address today’s complex challenges? The one intervention that will have the greatest impact on worldwide health and prosperity? After a year-long assessment, the Copenhagen Consensus 2012 Expert Panel—which includes four Nobel Laureates—declared their answer earlier this month: providing micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to the world’s malnourished people. For global leaders, this presents a tremendous opportunity to take advantage of the research and expertise pointing to the proven impact of nutrition on improving the lives of millions. “Bundled micronutrient interventions,” particularly for children, are at the top of the Copenhagen Consensus list because proper nutrition early in life impacts a child’s ability to grow, to fight disease, to learn in school and to earn more as an adult. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 19 100 years 100 Jahre Vitamine ... und immer noch topaktuell The announcement that vitamins and minerals are the single best global aid investment comes as we celebrate 100 years of vitamins—in 1912 the term “vitamin” was coined to describe the bioactive substances we now know are absolutely essential for health and development. CH-D Wirtschaft July 2012 Über 100 Millionen CHF Investitionen jährlich Anita Fechtig für Innovation im Kanton Aargau Micronutrients have played a vital role in protecting our health for the last 100 years, and they are key to solving our global nutritional challenges. We know that malnutrition leads to irreversible physical and cognitive damage. But we also know that mothers who are well nourished will give birth to healthier babies. And children who receive the best nutrition during their first two years will reach their full cognitive potential, complete more school and grow to become healthier, more productive adults, contributing to a more prosperous future for their families and their nations. 100 Jahre sind sie jung, 13 an der Zahl, lebensnotwendig für Körper und Geist – die Vitamine. Vitamine sind organische Verbindungen, die der Körper nicht selbst herstellen kann (ausser Niacin und Vitamin D) und die darum über die Nahrung aufgenommen werden müssen. Die meisten der industriell gefertigten Vitamine kommen aus der Region um Basel, wo der Marktführer DSM den Sitz seiner Ernährungssparte angesiedelt hat. Die Geschichte der Vitamine beginnt mit der Einführung neuer Reisschältechnologien im asiatischen Raum zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts. Da dem Reis beim Schälen lebensnotwendige Nährstoffe entzogen wurden, litten die Menschen an Symptomen, die von Kräfteverlust bis hin zu Lähmungserscheinungen reichten. Nach eingehender Forschung gelang es dem ehemaligen Berner Studenten Casimir Funk, in der Reiskleie eine Substanz zu definieren, mit der die Patienten geheilt werden konnten. Er nannte diesen aktiven Stoff 1912 erstmals «Vitamine» — zusammengesetzt aus Vita (lat. = Leben) und Amine (= Stickstoffverbindung). More from GlobalPost: Health, nutrition become priorities at Davos At Sight and Life we are proud to be a part of the broad base of global momentum building around nutrition. We know that combating malnutrition is a grand challenge, with far-reaching impacts, and will not be overcome by one group alone. We support global partnerships such as the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, working to champion nutrition at global and national levels. And we are committed to growing the evidence base for nutrition in order to provide crucial information for global leaders as they work to transform research—like the Copenhagen Consensus—into action. Vitamine müssen mit der Nahrung aufgenommen werden; und ist die Zufuhr nicht ausreichend, können noch heute schwerwiegende Mangelerscheinungen die Folge sein. In zahlreichen Entwicklungsländern ist das Problem akut. Denn stehen den Menschen zu wenig vitaminhaltige Nahrungsmittel zur Verfügung, führt dies früher oder später zu Erkrankungen, Entwicklungsstörungen oder gar erhöhten Sterblichkeitsraten. Man spricht hier vom Hidden Hunger, vom versteckten Hunger. Zahlreiche Organisationen und Unternehmen haben es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, diesen Zustand zu beheben. Zu diesen Unternehmen gehört auch DSM, weltweit das einzige Unternehmen, das alle Vitamine A, B, C, D, E und K herstellt. Gemeinsam mit dem United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) kämpft DSM gegen den verstecktenHunger, von dem weltweit etwa zwei Milliarden Menschen betroffen sind. Zu diesem Zweck wurde beispielsweise MixMeTM entwickelt, eine Tagesdosis von Vitaminen und Mineralien, die als Pulver über gekochten Reis, Mais usw. gestreut wird, ohne dass sich Aussehen und Geschmack des Grundnahrungsmittels ändern. Das Problem existiert allerdings nicht nur in den The fact is, combating malnutrition is at the top of the list because its impact can be felt across sectors—from health to agriculture to the economy. Improving nutrition is the most effective way to secure a better future. We must support global leaders who have committed to investing in nutrition. We must support developing countries to improve their capacity to scale up nutrition programs and policies. And we must work together so that everyone, everywhere has access to the right foods and the vitamins and minerals they need to grow healthily, nourish their families and support a prosperous future for their nations and the world. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/ global-pulse/micronutrients-copenhagen-consensus 100 years 20 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings CRN celebrates 100 years of vitamins Entwicklungsländern, sondern auch in unserer Weltgegend, woman es eher nicht vermuten würde. Studien haben gezeigt, dass viele Europäer nicht ausreichend vitamin- und nährstoffreiche Nahrung zu sich nehmen, obwohl diese überall zugänglich ist. Das liegt teilweise daran, dass wir oft viel aber nicht immer richtig essen. Zum anderen liegt es am modernen Lebensstil, in welchem die frische Zubereitung von Mahlzeiten manchmal zu kurz kommt. Die Auswirkungen sind nicht sofort als schwerer Vitaminmangel erkennbar, haben aber langfristig einen negativen Einfluss auf Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden. Andererseits zeichnet sich ein allgemeiner Trend zu gesundem Leben ab, dem immer mehr Menschen folgen, und dazu gehört auch eine vernünftige Versorgung mit Vitaminen. Drug Store News July 19, 2012 The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Wednesday honored the 100th anniversary of the “vitamin,” a term that was coined by Casimir Funk, a Polish-American biochemist, in 1912. In the century since then, scientists have uncovered the specific functions of vitamins and established the many benefits of adequate intakes of the nutrients. “Even the most conscientious consumers find it difficult to get all the nutrients they need from food alone,” stated Annette Dickinson, author of a new book, “The Benefits of Nutritional Supplements” published by the Council for Responsible Nutrition. “We hope that the 100th anniversary commemoration will remind consumers that nutrient shortfalls can have health consequences and that supplementing the diet with vitamins can positively benefit our lives.” Neben der Bedienung dieses weltweit wachsenden Bedarfs stehen bei DSM Forschung und Wissenschaft im Vordergrund. «Wir investieren jährlich weit über hundert Millionen Schweizerfranken in die Innovation, einen grossen Teil davon in der Region», erklärt Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President Nutrition Science & Advocacy von DSM Nutritional Products. «Auch die allgemeine Aufklärung über Vitamine – wie ist der Versorgungsstatus, wo liegen die optimalen Zufuhrmengen, wie beugen wir mit ihrer Hilfe gegen Krankheiten vor – sind für uns wichtig. Aktuell arbeiten wir zum Beispiel an Vitaminstatus-Weltkarten, die einen Überblick darüber geben, in welchen Ländern die Menschen unterversorgt sind», erklärt er. Die Folgen eines solchen Mangels sind nicht nur für die direkt Betroffenen, sondern zum Beispiel als erhebliche Zusatzkosten im Gesundheitssystem auch in Ländern mit einer grundsätzlich guten Lebensmittelversorgung beziehungsweise relativ hohem Wohlstand nicht zu vernachlässigen. CRN recently released the fourth edition of “The Benefits of Nutritional Supplements,” which assesses the current state of the science on the health benefits associated with nutritional supplements. The report relays that consistent, rational use of vitamins contributes to overall health and wellness throughout all age groups, lifestyles, and life stages. The book can be downloaded at no charge at Crnusa.org/ benefits. http://drugstorenews.com/article/crn-celebrates-100years-vitamins Der holländische Vitamin-Marktführer DSM ist mit rund 3‘000 Mitarbeitenden im Dreiländereck vertreten, mit Fabriken in Süddeutschland (Grenzach) und im Elsass (Village- Neuf) sowie mit einer starken Präsenz in der Nordwestschweiz. Im Kanton Aargau beschäftigt DSM Nutritional Products ca. 2‘000 Personen. Die Hälfte davon im Werk in Sisseln, welches die weltgrösste Produktionsanlage für die Vitamine A und E ist. In Kaiseraugst befinden sich der Hauptsitz der Ernährungssparte sowie das DSM Nutrition Innovationszentrum und die Leitung der Region Europa. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 21 100 years Age Matters: Vitamins for Every Life Stage 30s: Antioxidant vitamins, including C and E are important for men and women in their 30s because these vitamins help protect against the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. Adults with high levels of these antioxidants are at a low risk of vision loss later in life. Journal Sentinel 3 August 2012 40s and beyond: Vitamins D and B12 are important in the 40s and well after. As we get older, we are less efficient at making vitamin D and we may be susceptible to drops in the levels of vitamin absorption. Vitamin B12 deficiencies are typically due to insufficient diet and absorption challenges. Somer shares tips to help you get more of the essentials into your daily diet. Tip 1: Survey what you’re eating. Use a food journal to see what you need to add or remove from your diet. Make a weekly food schedule to help you meet nutritional requirements. Gain an understanding of the vitamins found in different foods - one helpful resource is the 100 Years of Vitamins website. (ARA) - It was 100 years ago, in 1912, when Polish-American scientist Casimir Funk identified the first vitamin. Now, on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins, men and women still do not get recommended daily intake levels of vitamins. According to a paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, only 1 percent of the population meets minimum standards of a balanced diet. Tip 2: Up your fruit and vegetable intake to help add one or two extra servings of these vitamin-packed foods. Have a cup of frozen blueberries; it will give you about 25 percent of your vitamin C requirement. Eat about a half cup of baby carrots and get 120 percent of your Vitamin A requirement. Try dipping the carrots in low-fat vegetable dip or salsa for added flavor. Age matters when it comes to vitamins. All vitamins are essential - meaning our bodies can’t make them, so they must be obtained from the diet. Throughout life, we all need the right mix of the 13 essential vitamins, but some are more important than others when it comes to different life stages. Tip 3: Add one or two enriched or fortified foods to your daily diet, like whole grain cereal or oatmeal fortified with vitamin D, soy milk and other soy products fortified with B12, or whole wheat tortillas - like Mission Life Balance - fortified with vitamin A. Tip 4: Eat “real” unprocessed foods at least 75 percent of the time. You may want to add a multi-vitamin supplement to your diet to help fill in the gaps on days when you don’t eat perfectly. “With a century of vitamin knowledge upon us, it’s a good reminder to stay up to date on the latest vitamin recommendations,” says Elizabeth Somer, registered dietitian and author of “Eat Your Way to Sexy” (Harlequin, 2012). “New vitamin research findings are continuously being uncovered around the needs of men and women during unique times in their lives.” A quick stroll through life’s stages reveals: 20s: Folic acid is important for women in their 20s - a prime childbearing age - because this B vitamin is essential in preventing birth defects like spina bifida in infants. Women need at least 400mcg per day, but often don’t get enough. By the time a pregnancy test comes back positive and women ponder taking a supplement, it could be too late. 100 years 22 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Warning Signs of a Bad Diet The Solution: Include two to three weekly servings of fatty fish (i.e., salmon) for the omega-3s and vitamin B12, two dark green leafies or legumes a day for folic acid, and several vitamin B6rich bananas, whole grains, asparagus, and legumes in your diet. Elizabethsomerblog.com 15 August 2012 Just Do This Today 1. Munch on a whole-grain toaster waffle topped with blueberries, rather than a blueberry toaster waffle. The blueberry waffle has a half teaspoon of fruit, while a half cup of real blueberries has more antioxidants than five servings of apples. In fact, USDA rates blueberries #1 in antioxidants compared to 40 other fruits and vegetables. The deep bluishpurple skin contains antioxidant-rich anthocyanins, while the insides contain ellagic acid and resveratrol, all phytochemicals with anti-cancer capabilities. Other phytochemicals in blueberries, such as proanthocyanidins and tannins, might help promote urinary tract health by blocking the grown of bacteria. Don’t you wish a thorough diet check-up was as simple as an annual physical exam? The appointment might start with the dietitian asking you to say “ah.” “Hmmm, not eating enough broccoli I can see,” she might say or “Just what I thought, there is too much cheese whiz and not enough sweet potatoes down there.” Unfortunately, every attempt at an accurate appraisal of our nutritional status – take for example hair analysis – has proved more quackery than quality. Don’t expect much help from most physicians either; they seldom probe beyond a blood test for anemia when it comes to nutritional status. So how are you supposed to know if you are eating right or wrong? Luckily, many signs of a careless diet are right in front of your nose. While you explain away subtle inconveniences like fatigue, dry skin, or moodiness as “normal,” think again. These are red flags that your diet isn’t a good as you think. Warning Sign #1. Low Energy/Fatigue The Cause: If you’re on a low-carbohydrate fad diet, this could be the culprit. Too few carbs – the body’s prime source of immediate fuel – leaves you physically tired and mentally sluggish. Low intake of iron and/or water also causes fatigue, while a diet based on convenience, fast and processed foods is a downer. 2. Add a small glass of orange juice at breakfast. A glass of OJ every morning reduces your risk for stroke (by up to 20%), lowers the “bad” cholesterol called LDLs and boosts the good cholesterol called HDLs, thus reducing heart disease risk. That little glass of juice also lowers colon cancer risk and reduces blood pressure, while supplying twice your daily requirement for vitamin C, plus ample amounts of potassium, folic acid, and a phytochemical called D-limonene that detoxifies cancer-causing substances. Choose the calcium- and vitamin D-fortified OJ to help maintain bones and possibly curb PMS symptoms. The Solution: Skip the packaged and processed stuff, and eat a few quality carbohydrates (whole grains) and you’ll stay energized and mentally sharp while still losing weight. Add more iron-rich foods, such as dark green leafies and extra-lean meat, and at least 8 glasses of water, too. Oh, and don’t forget to exercise almost every day! 3. Add grated carrots to a burrito or into your spaghetti sauce. A carrot a day could slash stroke risk by 68%. Carotenes in carrots also lower heart attack risks by up to 45%. While beta carotene supplements might increase lung cancer risk in smokers, beta carotene-rich carrots lower risk. Besides, they add color and crunch to that burrito! WarningSigh #2. DrySkin/Wrinkling and Hair Loss The Cause: Are you eating enough vegetables? If not, your skin will age before it’s time. Vegetables are Mother Nature’s perfect source of antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that protect the skin from the sun’s damaging rays (along with sunscreen!). Dark green leafies and deep-orange produce prevent hair loss and dry, itchy scalp and skin. Hot Off the Diet Press 1. Vitamin Poor: This year marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the first vitamin – thiamin. Yet, Americans still fall short of optimal. More than three out of four Americans consume vitamin-poor diets, according to a study from Kaiseraugst, Switzerland. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2008 was used to categorize vitamin intakes into five classes of people who consumed less than the recommended intake: <5%, 5 to 25%, >25 to 50%, > 50 to 75% and > 75%. Results showed that more than 75% of the Americans studied consumed sub-optimal amounts of vitamins A, D, and E. Up to 75% consumed too little vitamin C, and up to one in two women consumed inadequate amounts of vitamins B1, B6, and folic acid. The Solution: Aim for no less than eight servings of dark-colored fruits and vegetables every day – at least two at every meal and one at every snack. Warning Sign #3. Depression The Cause: Not enough of the omega-3 fats in fish or the B vitamins, especially folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, and you’re likely to feel down in the dumps, even down-right depressed. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 23 100 years Keimzelle der industriellen Vitamin Produktion Region Basel 2. Overloaded Planet: Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine weighed in on the planet’s total population weight and the numbers are staggering. Using 2005 global data, the study found that if the entire 7+ billion people stepped on a scale, the total weight would be 316 million tons or 632 billion pounds. Overweight people add 16 million tons of excess body fat, the equivalent of 242 million normal-weight people. Obese people carry 3.8 million tons of excess body fat, which is the equivalent of 56 million normal-weight folks. North America has only 6% of the world’s population, but 34% of the human biomass in the world caused by obesity. In contrast, Asia has 61% of the world’s population, but only 13% of it’s biomass from obesity. If all countries had as many overweight people as the U.S., the total population weight would increase by 63 million tons, equivalent to the weight of 473 million normalweight people. Whew! Badische Zeitung 16 August 2012 Schon in den 30er und 40er Jahren war die Region Basel führend in der synthetischen Herstellung von Vitaminen. Die Vitaminfabriken von DSM in der Region Basel hatten einst Schlüsselrollen für die Vitamin-Produktion im großen Maßstab. Damals noch Teil des Roche-Konzerns war vor allem das Werk Grenzach bis zum Zweiten Weltkrieg eine Keimzelle der frühen Massenproduktion wichtiger Vitamine. Der in Kiew geborene Chemiker und Professor Tadeusz Reichenstein, der seit 1938 an der Uni Basel lehrte, erzeugte Vitamin C bereits 1932 auf einem chemischen Weg. Auf Basis dieser Reichenstein-Synthese produzierte Roche 1934 in Grenzach die ersten 50 Kilogramm Vitamin C in einem technischen Verfahren, stellte es von 1936 an auch industriell her und wurde hierzulande nicht zuletzt dank der Vitaminpräparate bekannt. Unterbrochen vom Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde die Vitamin-C-Kapazität in Grenzach 1958 dann sogar auf 10 000 Tonnen erweitert, die Produktion 1994 aber eingestellt und ins schottische Dalry verlagert. 3. Beige Is the New Brown: First there was regular ol’ white body fat. Then there was brown fat that burns calories. Now, researchers at Harvard Medical School report there is a third type of body fat – beige fat. In their study, beige fat cells from mice were cloned and found to be genetically somewhere between white and brown fat, and can burn energy like brown fat when “turned on” by the hormone “irisin, which is released from muscle while exercising. In Perspective: The researchers suggest it might be possible to treat obese people with irisin to boost the calorie-burning ability of their beige fat cells, but wouldn’t it be much better if they turned on those cells by exercising more?! Ähnliche Pionierleistungen wiederholte Roche später mit den Vitaminen E und A, die heute in Sisseln hergestellt werden. Dies Kapitel führt unweigerlich zu dem legendären Schweizer Chemiker Otto Isler, der Mitte der 40er-Jahre zunächst Öl mit hohem Vitamin-A-Gehalt entwickelte und daraus 1947 kristallisierten Vitamin-A-Alkohol beziehungsweise Vitamin-AAcetat synthetisierte, ein Verfahren, das im Prinzip in der 1967 in Sisseln in Betrieb genommenen und nach wie vor größten Vitamin-A-Produktion der Welt noch heute verwendet wird. Isler aber war nicht nur Chemiker: Er bot die ersten Kilogramm Vitamin A, die er synthetisiert hatte, dem Margarinehersteller Unilever an. Was den dazu brachte, Margarine mit synthetischem Vitamin A anzureichern, den Verkauf natürlicher Vitamin-A-Konzentrate aus Fischölen einbrechen und die Vitamin-A-Synthese zum wirtschaftlich einträglichen Geschäft werden ließ. Food & Mood Tip If you want to be brain-dead, do the following: Skip breakfast and you probably will forget where you put your keys by midafternoon. Try to make up the difference with cookies for a mid-day snack and you also won’t remember your name. A diet lacking in antioxidant-rich produce and vitamin E-rich nuts, seeds, and wheat germ leaves the brain vulnerable to damage by oxygen fragments called free radicals that also contribute to memory loss. Instead, to boost brain power, eat breakfast and skip sugary snacks mid-day. Also protect delicate brain tissue with antioxidant-rich foods. According to a study from Tufts University in Boston, the best sources of antioxidants in the diet include prunes, raisins, berries, plums, oranges, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, beets, red bell peppers, red grapes, and cherries. Consider taking a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement that contains extra vitamin E, and add a DHA supplement to the daily regimen, too. The MIDAS study found that 900 milligrams of this omega-3 improved memory in seniors. http://elizabethsomerblog.com/august-15-2012/ 100 years 24 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Die Renaissance der Vitamine Der leidenschaftliche Forscher Isler, der übrigens auch einen Rebberg am Tüllinger Berg hegte, hat für Roche später noch weitere Mikronährstoffe entwickelt wie die Carotinoide und zahlreiche Derivate des Vitamin A, die nicht zuletzt in der Hautpflege eingesetzt werden. Roche, die zeitweise größter Vitaminproduzent der Welt war, hat das Geschäft mit der Neuausrichtung des Konzerns Ende 2003 indes an den holländischen DSM-Konzern verkauft. Der hat aus diesem Kern und mit einigen für die Belegschaft schmerzhaften und zum Teil immer noch schmerzhaften Anpassungsprozessen seine inzwischen sehr erfolgreiche Nutritionsparte geformt. Ob das nun beginnende zweite Jahrhundert der Vitamin-Produktion noch einmal ähnlich bahnbrechende Erfindungen bringen wird wie das vergangene, wird sich indes wohl erst im Lauf der nächsten Jahrzehnte weisen. Donnerstag Badische Zeitung 16 August 2012 Vor 100 Jahren entschlüsselte die Wissenschaft das erste Vitamin – mittlerweile erleben die Mikronährstoffe eine Renaissance. Vitamine verkörperten in den ersten Jahrzehnten des 20. Jahrhunderts den Aufbruch in die Moderne. In den gesundheitsbewussten und konsumorientierten Gesellschaften der Gegenwart verzeichnen sie seit Jahren einen zweiten Frühling und künftig werden diese Mikronährstoffe, wie sie die Fachleute nennen, für die Ernährung und das Wohlbefinden einer weiter wachsenden Weltbevölkerung wohl noch wichtiger werden. Diese These vertritt Manfred Eggersdorfer, für Forschung und Wissenschaft zuständiger Vizepräsident der Nutritionsparte (Info) des holländischen DSM-Konzerns. Ob die Einschätzung zutrifft, wird zwar erst in den nächsten Jahren sichtbar werden, klar aber ist, dass die Vitaminwerke von DSM in der Region Basel seit Jahrzehnten Pionierfunktionen (Text unten) für die industrielle Entwicklung und erbreitung der Technologie übernehmen. http://www.badische-zeitung.de/aargau/keimzelle-derindustriellen-vitamin-produktion--63149357.html DAS GESTERN Sie waren die Geißeln der frühen Moderne – Volkskrankheiten, wie der in Seefahrerfilmen bis heute mit dem Bild blutenden und faulenden Zahnfleisches verknüpfte Skorbut, die weichen Knochen der “englischen Krankheit”, wie Rachitis auch genannt wurde, oder Beriberi, dies einst vor allem in Asien auffällige Leiden, das sich in Symptomen wie Apathie, Lethargie und Bewegungsunfähigkeit zeigte. Im 19. und frühen 20. Jahrhundert konzentrierte sich die Creme der Biowissenschaften auf diese Krankheiten. Lösungen aber setzten voraus, diese Mangelkrankheiten überhaupt als solche zu erkennen. Beriberi etwa galt auch Anfang des 20. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 25 100 years Ernährung – eine Entdeckungsgeschichte, die wie – oft – “eine der Zufälle ist”, beschreibt Eggersdorfer. Repräsentative Daten belegen aus Sicht des Konzerns jedenfalls, dass eine Anreicherung von Nahrungsmitteln oder ergänzende Gaben für Risikogruppen in “großem Maß Gesundheitskosten sparen könnten”, betont Eggersdorfer. Klaus Krämer, Leiter des humanitären Programms “Sight and Life”, einem von DSM finanzierten Thinktank für Ernährungsfragen, macht noch eine andere Rechnung auf: Jährlich sterben seinen Angaben zufolge 3,5 Millionen Kinder an Unterernährung; zudem leide jedes dritte Kind weltweit unter Vitaminmangel mit meist fatalen Folgen: Denn die Defizite münden in Entwicklungsstörungen und Leistungsschwächen. Deren Folgekosten wiederum belasteten die Gesellschaften und verewigen die Verhältnisse: ein Teufelskreis. Das gilt auch für Vitamine: Der polnische Biochemiker Casimir Funk isolierte 1912 in London bei Forschungen zu Beriberi in ungeschälten Reiskörnern zufällig ein Amin, einen Baustein der Vitamine. In Folge keimte der Wunsch, die neuentdeckten Stoffe technisch und in größeren Mengen herzustellen, schildert Eggersdorfer weiter. Wobei auch da “Zufälle zusammenwirkten”, weiß er. Letztlich aber wurde daraus eine Initialzündung und eine Erfolgsgeschichte. Auf deren Habenseite stehen unter anderem die spürbare Verringerung der Kinder- und Säuglingssterblichkeit durch die Ergänzung der Nahrung mit Vitamin A oder die Reduktion von Neuralrohrdefekten um bis zu 50 Prozent mittels der Anreicherung von Mehl mit Folsäure, wie sie in den USA, Kanada und Südafrika üblich ist. DIE ZUKUNFT Ein Auslaufmodell werden Vitamine und Mikronährstoffe damit auch im zweiten Jahrhundert seit ihrer Entdeckung wohl kaum. Im Gegenteil: Angesichts der weltweit nach wie vor wachsenden Bevölkerung, angesichts knapper werdender Ressourcen, neuer wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse und des außerhalb Europas längst nicht ausgerotteten versteckten Hungers sind sie für Eggersdorfer und Krämer ein Schlüssel, Ernährung und Gesundheit langfristig abzusichern. “Die einzige Möglichkeit, diese wichtige Ressource erschwinglich und für die breiten Massen herzustellen, bleibt die industrielle Produktion”, stellte das Duo dieser Tage in internen Jubiläumsveranstaltungen in Sisseln und Grenzach-Wyhlen fest. DIE GEGENWART Vitamine und Mikronährstoffe sind technisch betrachtet inzwischen zwar ein reifes Produkt. Gleichwohl entpuppen sie sich dank wachsenden Wissens um ernährungsbedingte Krankheiten als “Evergreen”, wie Eggersdorfer sagt. “Der vermeintliche Ladenhüter erlebt seit Jahren eine Renaissance”, erfährt er denn auch – im Gesundheitswesen aber auch in der Lebensmittel- und der Futtermittelindustrie sowie der Kosmetikbranche. Heutzutage gibt’s dort kaum noch Produkte, die ohne Vitaminzusätze auskommen (Info). http://www.badische-zeitung.de/aargau/die-renaissance-dervitamine--63149376.html Jahrhunderts noch als Infektionskrankheit. Die Einsicht, dass das eine Sackgasse ist, diese kopernikanische Wende im Wissen um den Stoffwechsel, dieser “Paradigmenwechsel”, wie es Manfred Eggersdorfer nennt, keimte vor exakt 100 Jahren. Damals fesselten Beriberi oder Rachitis die Aufmerksamkeit der Wissenschaft und in letzter Konsequenz auch die der Industrie – so wie heute Krebs oder Nervenleiden wie Alzheimer. Schritt für Schritt entschlüsselten Wissenschaftler damals die Rätsel des Stoffwechsels und erkannten die Folgen von Unter- oder auch falscher. Zudem werden im Verbund mit Wissenschaft, Politik und Betroffenverbänden wie der Internationalen OsteoporoseVereinigung immer neue, letztlich den Absatz ankurbelnde Nutzeffekte aufgezeigt. Aktuelles Beispiel ist die wissenschaftlich durchaus kontrovers diskutierte Bewertung des Vitamin-D-Status in Europa und dessen Bedeutung für die Knochengesundheit und andere Körperfunktionen bis zur Stärkung des Immunsystems und der Senkung des Blutdrucks. 100 years 26 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Rep. Pallone Honors 100th Anniversary of Vitamins Congress recognizes 100th anniversary of the vitamin 26 September 2012 Nutraingredients 27 Septemeber 2012 WASHINGTON—Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) honored the 100th anniversary of the vitamin last week in the U.S. House of Representatives’ Congressional Record. The American Herbal Products Association(AHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA), and the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) joined Congressman Pallone in his support of the milestone. If only Casimir Funk were alive today to see what he hath wrought. A resolution in the U.S. Congress on Wednesday recognized the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the vitamin, a discovery— attributed to Funk—that set the stage for the 21st century’s multiple-billion dollar supplement and functional food industry. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ, read a statement into the Congressional Record recognizing Funk, a Polish-American scientist, and his first use of the term “vitamin” in 1912 to describe a group of bioactive substances vital to health. Rep. Pallone said in his statement: “Because of [Casimir Funk’s] work, we know that vitamins are essential for good health through every stage of [the] human life cycle and that our bodies require vitamins to grow, to function, to stay healthy and to prevent the onset of disease.” Rep. Pallone is co-chair of the Dietary Supplement Caucus and is considered on of the champions of the industry on Capitol Hill. Polish-American scientist Casimir Funk first used the term “vitamin” in 1912, describing bioactive substances crucial for human well being. Rep. Pallone, co-chair of the Dietary Supplement Caucus, referenced Funk in his official statement. “Because of [Casimir Funk’s] work, we know that vitamins are essential for good health through every stage of [the] human life cycle and that our bodies require vitamins to grow, to function, to stay healthy and to prevent the onset of disease,” Pallone said. Wissenschaft und in letzter Konsequenz auch die der Industrie – so wie heute Krebs oder Nervenleiden wie Alzheimer. Schritt für Schritt entschlüsselten Wissenschaftler damals die Rätsel des Stoffwechsels und erkannten die Folgen von Unter- oder auch falscher. Thiamine discovered Funk, who lived from 1884 to 1967, isolated thiamine, or vitamin B1, from brown rice after reading in the literature that beriberi, a vitamin B1 deficiency disease, was more prevalent among those who ate an exclusively white-rice diet as opposed to brown rice. Funk was able to isolate this vital element present in brown rice that was polished away to make the white version. He called it a“vital amine” for the amine group it contained; the “vitamine” contraction was later shortened to vitamin after it became clear that not all of these vital substances found in food contained amine groups. Funk’s work was presaged by Kanehiro Takaki, a Japanese naval medical officer, who investigated cases of beriberi on naval ships in the 1880s. Beriberi became a serious problem in the Japanese Navy around that time as it was the era in which the country’s ships began to regularly undertake long overseas voyages and the reliance on white rice to make up the lion’s share of calories for the crew first started to have observable effects. A press release from the four leading industry trade associations—the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA), and the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA)—joined Rep. Pallone in recognizing the anniversary of Funk’s achievement. http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Industry/Congressrecognizes-100th-anniversary-of-the-vitamin 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 27 100 years 100 Years of Vitamins Elizabeth Somer KOIB-TV CBS Portland (Video) Global population demands, ‘confusing’ media coverage and the 100 year old vitamin 17 October 2012 (Video) Nutraingredients-usa.com Link no longer available 19 November 2012 It’s 100 years since Casimir Funk came up with the term ‘vitamin’, but with an ever-increasing global population and negative reports in the media of their ‘ineffectiveness’ for select health conditions, what does the future hold for the humble vitamin? Speaking with NutraIngredients-USA at the recent SupplySide West show in Las Vegas, Dr Deshanie Rai, senior scientific leader, human nutrition & health, DSM Nutritional Products, answered questions on vitamin supply, understanding the benefits and limitations of the nutrients, and whether the vitamin family will be extended to include some emerging nutrients.“Our global population is increasing in size, but other factors need to be taken into account in addressing the adequacy of our vitamin supply,” she said. 100 Years of Vitamins Elizabeth Somer KOIB-TV CBS Portland (Audio) 17 October 2012 Link no longer available 100 Years of Vitamins WPFO FOX Portland ME (Video ) Link no longer available 100 Years Vitamins Wall street journal (Audio) Link no longer available “For example, global food production needs to increase in order to feed all these people. Additionally, the incidence of chronic disease is increasing developed and developing countries. Likewise, the prevalence of hidden hunger is increasing, and people are living longer.“Given all these points, yes I do believe that we have an adequate vitamin supply. This is where we need to depend on the manufacturers and suppliers of vitamins who, throughthe use of science and technology, provide vitamins for use in dietary supplements, and food and beverages through fortification and enrichment.” So are the negative reports in the media, with a little help from the medical journals, confusing consumers? “The mixed messages in the media can be confusing to consumers,” said Dr Rai. “This is where we as scientists, healthcare profession, and journalists can help to educate consumers about the value of vitamins. They are essential nutrients that help to support basic physiological functions from the time of conception throughout our life cycle. “We should also realize that vitamins cannot do everything, including curing and preventing a plethora of diseases. 100 years 28 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamins Celebrate 100 Years! “We should recognize the successes and achievements of vitamins in terms of actual human health outcomes, like reducing the incidence of neural tube defects. Likewise, the use of vitamins to help ensure our nutritional adequacy, and narrow nutrient gaps.”Talking about neural tube defects (NTDs), the main vitamin for that – folate/folic acid – was identified only in 1941. With calls from some quarters for other nutrients to join the ‘vitamin’ family, can we expect to see new nutrients named ‘vitamins’ or is the list closed? directsellingnews.com 19 November 2012 According to a May 2012 McKinsey & Company consumer shopper and insight report, the functional nutrition category—including vitamin nutrition as supplements and in fortified foods and beverages—is a $225–275 billion industry. What’s more, a recent Nutrition Business Journal report indicated vitamin sales in the direct selling channel grew about 10 percent to $1.6 billion in 2011, accounting for about 35 percent of all supplement sales, which represents a huge market share. And condition-specific vitamin supplements are helping to lead the way. With one baby boomer turning 60 years old every 7.5 seconds, maintaining brain health has become extremely top of mind. B vitamins as well as other ingredients such as DHA omega-3 are just some of the nutrients used to support brain health. (NBJ, Volume XVII | No. 4 | April 2012). “It depends on the strength of the overall science,” said Dr Rai. “As the science on nutrients and nutrition in general evolves, I believe these advances will help to drive new insights and perspectives on this topic.” http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Industry/Globalpopulation-demands-confusing-media-coverage-and-the-100year-old-vitamin Casimir Funk The history of vitamins dates back to 1912 when the PolishAmerican biochemist Casimir Funk isolated the first vitamin (B1 from rice bran. At that time, European rice hulling machines were brought to Asia to process rice. However, the hulling process stripped the rice of vital nutritional elements. As a consequence, new health problems began emerging among people that relied on de-hulled rice as a staple food. Funk realized that a compound inside rice bran was essential. He gave the newly discovered substance the name vitamine—a combination of vita (Latin for “life”) and amine (nitrogen compound). For 100 years the word vitamin has been an umbrella term for a group of essential micronutrients that play a range of important roles in our bodies. Most vitamins must be obtained from the diet, classifying them as “essential.” When intake is inadequate, vitamin deficiency disorders occur. Vitamins are present in food in minute quantities compared to the macronutrients protein, carbohydrates and fat. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 29 100 years • Traceability: It’s important to understand where the ingredients you purchase come from. Not all ingredients are produced with the same quality controls in place. • Bioavailability: Perform bioavailability studies or make sure the ingredient supplier can provide you with bioavailability studies on their ingredients. This will ensure that the ingredients can be efficiently absorbed by the body. • Technical Assistance and Scientific Support: Many ingredient suppliers have in-house technical and scientific support teams that are accessible to its customers. It’s important to inquire about technical assistance and scientific support so that you get the full benefits of your partnership. While the benefits of each vitamin remain consistent, the delivery methods are evolving, creating more and more opportunities for direct sellers. Innovation paves the way to make it easier and more convenient for families to get the recommended daily amounts of vitamins. There are new delivery applications, including: • Regulatory Knowledge: This area is critical and essential. Have a dedicated team focused on staying up to date on the regulatory environment. • vegetarian softgels • sprinkle packs • gels • effervescents • Education, Marketing and Communications Support: Develop educational and other marketing material that clearly articulates the health benefits of your products. Vitamins can even be disguised in traditionally indulgent foods such as chocolates. For instance, there are chocolate truffles on the market fortified with folic acid (one of the B vitamins) for pregnant women. So, while not your typical delivery system for vitamins, fortified foods such as chocolates can help to increase consumer compliance and improve nutrient intake. As we celebrate a century of vitamins, we are cognizant of the tremendous scientific accomplishments that helped us get to where we are today in a relatively short period of time, but we also need to be motivated to increase awareness of the importance of vitamin intake on a global level. Nutritional supplements have certainly become a major category of products sold through the direct selling channel, which provides the opportunity to tell the story behind the products. The outlook for the future is very promising! Consumers also want assurance that the supplements or fortified foods and beverages they buy are safe and effective and composed of ingredients that are sustainably sourced. With such high expectations, direct selling companies provide a credible competitive advantage and should look for innovative supplier partners that can develop new applications to help boost consumer compliance while delivering high-quality and traceable ingredients. Working with an ingredient supplier/manufacturer that is knowledgeable in the product development process adds value to the partnership, and most important, to the end product. http://directsellingnews.com/index.php/view/vitamins_celebrate_100_years#.UQvHFx3BHSg Consumers want assurance that the supplements or fortified foods and beverages they buy are safe and effective. Direct selling companies considering capturing a share of this market should use the following checklist when partnering with an ingredient supplier to ensure development of a quality product: 100 years 30 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Belangstelling voor vitamines neemt na 100 jaar weer Commentary Series – Tackaling poverty with Nutrition Voeding nu Innovations Globalfoodforthought 30 November 2012 5 December 2012 “You see that interest in research on vitamins increases again, not only when it comes to developing countries, but also in the western world still deficiencies may occur.” That says Wim Saris, corporate scientist at DSM Food Specialties and Professor of Human Biology at Maastricht University. One hundred years ago, a scientist named Casimir Funk stood in a laboratory, determined to figure out why chickens fed a diet of white rice were more likely to die of beriberi disease than chickens fed brown rice. He eventually isolated vitamin B1 and coined the term “vitamin” to describe the bioactive substances we now know to be essential for human health. It was a pivotal discovery that has contributed to a century of innovative research, improved health and increased prosperity. Saris responded after the symposium ‘100 years of vitamins “today at the University of Basel took place. It was held this year because 100 years ago is that the Polish scientist Casimir Funk was first isolated vitamin (B1). He was also inspired by the work of the Dutch researcher Eijkman already late nineteenth century had described that people who ate brown rice were less likely to beriberi. “He wrote sadly in Dutch and therefore the honor to him gone,” remarked the American researcher Richard Semba during his presentation at the symposium, which he got some laugh on his hand. Vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) are key to addressing hunger and poverty. Micronutrient deficiencies lower the productivity of individuals and entire populations, seriously hindering economic development. Malnutrition, especially during the 1,000 days between pregnancy and a child’s second birthday, can lead to irreversible physical stunting and cognitive impairment. But children who are well nourished grow up to learn more and earn more. They achieve more in school, are better able to fight off diseases and tend to be more productive as adults. The 2012 Copenhagen Consensus experts pronounced providing micronutrients to children under five as the best way to spend global aid dollars, with every $1 spent generating $30 in benefits. And research has found that investing in nutrition can raise a country’s GDP by at least 2 – 3 percent. When children are properly nourished, they can grow up to be healthy and productive, helping to lift their communities—and their countries—out of poverty. Vitamin D and blood pressure. “I notice that there a renewed belanstelling for research into the effectiveness of vitamins “, goes further Saris. “I see the growing research, for example in the field of vitamin D.” The German researcher Heike Bischoff-Ferrari went during the day deeper into this vitamin and they described the positive relationship of sufficient vitamin D with a reduction in the risk of hip fractures, the stronger love muscles in later life and lower blood pressure. Vitamin Claims In unlike many rejected claims for the effects of various dietary components, and adopted the European Food Safety Authority EFSA many claims about vitamins good. “About 90 of the 240 approved health claims shall refer to vitamins,” said Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior vice president nuri stationed science of DSM Nutritional Products and co-organizer of the symposium. Scientific innovation is unlocking better ways to provide vitamins and minerals to the two billion people worldwide who lack the micronutrients they need, a condition known as “hidden hunger.” And in fact, such innovation is critical. We will not be able to adequately address today’s nutrition challenges unless we continue to identify and develop new scientific solutions and then scale up those solutions. One example of such innovation is food fortification: the deliberate addition of essential micronutrients to food. Fortifying staple foods (such as rice and wheat) is a simple, safe and cost-effective way to add essential micronutrients to food. It can increase the health and productivity of whole populations, especially in regions where diets consist mainly of staple crops. “Vitamins are in the right corner, which of course is not unusual for substances which have been many years of research that has been done and much experience has been gained. I think that in the future more of the claims about vitamins in foods to hear, they are not approved for nothing. “ http://www.voedingnu.nl/belangstelling-voor-vitamines-neemtna-100-jaar.190090.lynkx 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 31 100 years “4 Steps to Choosing the Right Vitamins Supplements” But the challenge for scientists is to develop technology that enables them to produce, for example in the case of rice, a molded pellet that looks like a grain of rice, cooks like a grain of rice, tastes like a grain of rice and contains essential micronutrients—and that won’t lose those nutrients during transport, washing or cooking. Not only have scientistssolved this challenge, they have also developed fortified flour, sugar and cooking oil, as well as micronutrient powder packets that can be sprinkled on food or dissolved into a drink immediately before serving. I am proud to say that DSM is a leader in this technology, and that in partnership with the World Food Programme, we have fed and nourished over 10 million people and counting in countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kenya and Nepal with fortified rice and micronutrient powder packets. NBC Today Show 14 January 2013 The result of increased access to micronutrients? Some of the most significant public health successes of the past century: iodized salt is now in 70 percent of developing-world households, up from 20 percent in 1990, preventing mental retardation; folic acid fortification of flour is now required by 57 countries, including the US and UK, reducing cases of brain and spine birth defects by up to 70 percent; and vitamin A supplement distribution programs have led to a 25 percent reduction in deaths among children under five. Link no longer available Micronutrients are key to solving our global health and development challenges—including hunger and poverty—and investing in vitamin science and technological innovations is essential to increasing access to micronutrients. As we commemorate 100 years of vitamins, we look back at a century of innovation, but also look forward to the critical role vitamins will continue to play in advancing health and prosperity worldwide. Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer is a Senior Vice President and Head for Nutritional Science Advocacy at DSM Nutritional Products, the world leader in vitamins, carotenoids and nutritional ingredients. DSM and its nonprofit humanitarian initiative, Sight and Life, are currently celebrating 100 Years of Vitamins. http://globalfoodforthought.typepad.com/global-food-forthought/2012/12/commentary-series-tackling-poverty-withnutrition-innovations.html 100 years 32 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamin A 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 33 Vitamin A Preventing blindness and saving lives with vitamin A These efforts don’t just save sight—they save lives. Vitamin A distribution has resulted in a 25 percent reduction in under-five child deaths. Vitaminangels.org 11 October 2012 Vitamin supplementation is not only low cost, it also has an incredibly high return on investment. Providing essential micronutrients, including vitamin A, to children is the single smartest way to invest global aid dollars, according to the 2012 Copenhagen Consensus panel of experts. They determined that every $1 spent on micronutrients for preschoolers generates $30 in benefits—an astounding return on investment. Another great blog post for World Sight Day World Sight Day is a time to reflect back on the tremendous progress to date in addressingvitamin A deficiency, and to call on the global community to prioritize vitamin A supplementation so we can continue to prevent blindness and save lives. Although a simple, cost-effective solution exists, vitamin A deficiency remains the No. 1 cause of preventable blindness in children. It also claims an estimated 670,000 lives each year by weakening the immune system, increasing the risk of death from common diseases like measles and diarrhea. We know that providing micronutrients to children is a low-cost, high-impact solution that prevents blindness and saves lives. This solution is ready to be further scaled up. Delivering vitamin A and other essential micronutrients to whole populations requires strong partnerships among governments, civil society, donors, aid agencies, local NGOs and business. More can be done to scale up the delivery of essential micronutrients, such as focusing on hard-to-reach populations, committing national resources, being transparent and holding each other accountable with evaluation metrics. Although much work has been done and great success has been achieved, we cannot become complacent; in the words of William Pollard, “The arrogance of success is to think that what we did yesterday is good enough for tomorrow. These cases of blindness and death are largely preventable. A simple, affordable and proven solution exists: supplementing children with vitamin A. While many health and development challenges are complex to tackle—they can be expensive and require multiple interventions—preventing vitamin A deficiency can be accomplished by reaching children 6 to 59 months with just one dose of vitamin A every six months. Vitamin Angels’ cost to reach one child for one year is just 25 cents. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 190 million preschool children worldwide suffer from vitamin A deficiency. One-quarter to half a million of these children become blind each year—and half of those die within 12 months of losing their sight. As we celebrate World Sight Day and more than a decade of successful vitamin A interventions, we look forward to a new decade of commitments and the role vitamins will continue to play in a healthy, prosperous global future. Klaus Kraemer, Ph.D. is the director of Sight and Life, a non-profit humanitarian nutrition think tank of DSM, which cares about the world’s most vulnerable populations and exists to help improve their nutritional status. Acting as their advocates, Sight and Life guides original nutrition research,disseminates its findings and facilitates dialogue to bring about positive change. Sight and Life is currently celebrating their 100 Years of Vitamins campaign. Vitamin A deficiency is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Poor populations in these countries cannot afford or do not have access to foods rich in vitamin A, such as liver, egg yolk, dairy products, orange-colored fruit and vegetables and green leafy vegetables. We’ve made tremendous progress to date—in 1999, only 16 percent of children were receiving the necessary two annual doses of vitamin A; by 2007, that figure had more than quadrupled to 72 percent. Today, in some countries, 100 percent coverage has been achieved. Sight and Life and Vitamin Angels are proud to participate, along with UNICEF, Micronutrient Initiative, national governments and others in implementing vitamin A supplementation programs in developing countries. In 2011 alone, Vitamin Angels provided more than 24 million infants and children under five in 38 countries with vitamin A. With collective global efforts, vitamin A supplementation programs are active in 103 countries. Vitamin A Howard Schiffer is the president and founder of Vitamin Angels, a non-profit organization that reduces child mortality worldwide by connecting infants and children under five with vital micronutrients, primarily vitamin A. In 2012, Vitamin Angels will reach approximately 25 million children in over 40 countries, including the U.S., with the micronutrients they need as a foundation for good health. To learn more, visit vitaminangels.org. 34 Vitamin B 35 UU vitamin research combats stroke risk B-Vitamine halten geistig fit BBC News Ärzte Zeitung 11 May 2012 21 May 2012 Vitamin B2, which is found in dairy products, can help lower high blood pressure, according to research by the University of Ulster. UU nutrition experts said one in ten people, depending on their genes, could significantly lower their blood pressure by increased use of the B2. Menschen über 60 können offenbar ihren geistigen Abbau verzögern, wenn sie sich verstärkt mit B-Vitaminen versorgen. Darauf deuten mehrere Studien hin. Es könnte sich lohnen, ab einem Alter von etwa 60 Jahren vermehrt auf eine gute Versorgung mit B-Vitaminen zu achten, denn mehrere Studien deuten darauf, dass sich damit der geistige Abbau verzögern lässt.So hatten US-amerikanische Forscher vor kurzem gezeigt, dass bei niedrigen Vitamin-BWerten das Gehirn im Alter schneller schrumpft und parallel dazu die kognitiven Funktionen abnehmen. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and heart disease. Together, they are responsible for about one-third of all deaths in Northern Ireland. The UU said B2, also known as riboflavin, reduced high blood pressure which is often linked to a particular genetic factor found in 10% of the population. The research was conducted by Dr Carol Wilson in conjunction with staff at Antrim and Altnagelvin Hospitals and Trinity College Dublin. Vitamin B12 und Folsäure im Fokus Zuvor hatte eine britische Arbeitsgruppe eine Studie präsentiert, nach der eine Behandlung mit B-Vitaminen und Folsäure eine solche Hirnatrophie bremsen kann. Dr Wilson said: “These findings are so exciting because they focus on novel non-drug treatment for high blood pressure, targeted at individuals with a particular genetic factor. “The blood pressure-lowering response described in this research paper is hugely relevant in terms of its clinical implications.” In Western societies, milk and other dairy products account for more than 50% of riboflavin intake, along with some fortified products such as breakfast cereals and other foods. “In the genetically at-risk group, vitamin B2 was able to lower blood pressure to within recommended target values while having no adverse effects on individuals who didn’t have the gene,” Dr Wilson said. Nun legen Forscher um Dr. Babak Hooshmand vom KarolinskaInstitut in Stockholm nach: Sie stellten fest, dass die geistigen Fähigkeiten bei gesunden Menschen über 65 Jahren umso stärker abnehmen, je höher ihre Homocysteinwerte und je niedriger die Werte für die homocystein-senkenden Vitamine B12 und Folsäure sind (J Intern Med 2012; 271: 204-212). Für ihre Studie haben die schwedischen Wissenschaftler das Schicksal von 274 demenzfreien Finnen im Alter von 65 bis 75 Jahren beobachtet. Zu Beginn bestimmten sie die Serumwerte für Homocystein, Holotranscobalamin - die biologisch aktive Vitamin-B12-Form - sowie für Folsäure. Zudem durften die Teilnehmer unterschiedliche Kognitionstests absolvieren, mit denen die Gedächtnisleistung, die sprachliche Ausdrucksfähigkeit sowie die Exekutivfunktion geprüft wurden. “The response occurred irrespective of any blood pressurelowering drugs being taken by the study participants.The extent of blood pressure reduction translates into a 30% predicted reduction in the risk of stroke death in the at-risk group.” Erfolgreicher in den Tests Sieben Jahre später wurden die Studienteilnehmer erneut gründlich untersucht. Dabei zeigte sich, dass Teilnehmer im Quartil mit den höchsten Homocysteinwerten bei den Kognitionstests deutlich schlechter abschnitten als diejenigen im Quartil mit den niedrigsten Werten. “It would take about 10 kilos of weight loss to achieve the blood pressure lowering that was reported in our findings.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18025721 36 Beim Mini-Mental-Status-Test ergab sich hierbei ein Unterschied von 10 Prozent. Zu Beginn der Studie waren praktisch keine Unterschiede festgestellt worden. Ähnliche Differenzen wurden bei einem Test auf verbale Ausdrucksfähigkeit (minus 11 Prozent) und bei den Exekutivfunktionen per Stroop-Test (minus 14 Prozent) ermittelt. Beim Stroop-Test müssen die Teilnehmer die Farben von bunt gedruckten Farbwörtern benennen; so wird etwa das Wort “Gelb” in roter Farbe gedruckt. Die richtige Antwort auf die Frage “Welche Farbe hat das Wort?” wäre dann “Rot” und nicht “Gelb”. Umgekehrt schnitten Teilnehmer, die zu Studienbeginn hohe Vitamin-B12- und Folsäurewerte und damit niedrige Homocysteinspiegel hatten, in solchen Tests um etwa 9 bis 13 Prozent besser ab. Bei der Auswertung waren Faktoren wie Alter, Bildung, Blutdruck, Raucher- und ApoE4-Status berücksichtigt worden. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 37 Vitamin B Vitamin D 38 Nur hoch dosiertes Vitamin D kann Hüftbruch: Volle Vitamin D-Kraft voraus Frakturen verhindern krm-media.de 5 July 2012 5 July 2012 Zürich – Randomisierte Studien zur Vitamin-D-Prophylaxe von osteoporotischen Frakturen im Alter haben bisher keine eindeutigen Ergebnisse geliefert. Eine neue Meta-Analyse im New England Journal of Medicine (2012; 367:40-49) kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass ein Effekt nur bei höheren Dosierungen zu erwarten ist. Vitamin D fördert die Resorption von Kalzium im Darm und dessen Einbau in den Knochen. Die Substitution mit Vitamin D ist deshalb ein plausibler Ansatz in der Präven¬tion der Osteoporose, zumal viele ältere Menschen niedrige Vitamin D-Werte haben, da sie sich zu wenig im Freien aufhalten und sich oft vitaminarm ernähren. Weil die Knochen mit zunehmendem Alter schwächer und zerbrechlicher werden, steigt das Hüftbruchrisiko ab 65 Jahren kontinuierlich. Eine Studie kommt nun zu dem Schluss, dass Vitamin D Hüftbrüche nur bei hoher Dosierung (800 Einheiten oder mehr pro Tag) verhindern hilft. Gesunde Knochen erneuern sich, indem sie mit Hilfe von Vitamin D fortwährend Kalzium und Phosphat aufnehmen. Fehlt das Vitamin D, werden die Knochen brüchig. Oft geschieht dies im Alter, wenn die Fähigkeit der Haut nachlässt, mit der Energie des Sonnenlichts Vitamin D zu produzieren. Deshalb sind drei Viertel aller Knochenbrüche bei Personen über 65 Jahren zu verzeichnen. In Europa nimmt diese Altersklasse stark zu, bis 2050 ist daher mit einer Verdoppelung von Hüftbrüchen zu rechnen. Die Ergebnisse der zahlreichen randomisierten klinischen Studien waren nicht eindeutig. Eine Cochrane-Analyse auf der Basis von 45 Studien mit 84.585 Teilnehmern kam zuletzt zu dem Ergebnis, dass allenfalls die Kombination von Vitamin D mit Kalzium in der Lage ist, Frakturen zu vermindern. Doch auch hier wurde nur eine Reduktion um relativ 16 Prozent erreicht. Widersprüchliche Resultate Mehrere klinische Studien haben untersucht, ob die Anzahl Hüftbrüche und die damit verbundenen horrenden Kosten mit einer präventiven Verabreichung von Vitamin D reduziert werden können. Sie gelangten zu widersprüchlichen Resultaten. Nun haben sich die Forscher um Heike Bischoff-Ferrari vom Zentrum Alter und Mobilität der Universität Zürich einen neuen Überblick über die Daten verschafft. In ihrer soeben im “New England Journal of Medicine” veröffentlichten Metaanalyse gelingt es ihnen, die Widersprüche aufzulösen. http://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/50786 Bischoff-Ferrari und ihre Kollegen vom Universitätsspital Zürich und Stadtspital Waid haben sich mit den Originaldaten von etwas mehr als 30.000 betagten Personen befasst, die an elf verschiedenen klinischen Studien zur Vitamin D-Supplementation teilgenommen hatten. Erstmals berücksichtigten sie dabei, dass einige Personen weniger Vitamin-D-Tropfen schluckten als vorgesehen, andere aber auch ausserhalb der Studie zusätzliches Vitamin D zu sich nahmen. Umstrittene Dosis-Wirkungs-Beziehung So belegten die Forscher um Bischoff-Ferrari eine bisher umstrittene Dosis-Wirkungs-Beziehung: Nur wenn Vitamin D tatsächlich in ausreichender Menge eingenommen wird, entfaltet es seine schützende Wirkung. Das Hüftbruchrisiko verminderte sich um dreissig Prozent bei denjenigen Personen, die mindestens 800 internationale Einheiten (IE) Vitamin D pro Tag zu sich nahmen. Von dieser Dosierung profitieren 39 Brüchige Knochen sowohl gebrechliche als auch gesunde, noch zu Hause lebende Senioren. “Unsere Studie bildet die im Moment wichtigste Evidenzbasis, um die vom Bundesamt für Gesundheit empfohlene höhere Dosierung bei älteren Personen zu bekräftigen”, sagt Bischoff-Ferrari. Speiegel.de 9 July 2012 Eine Mehrheit der Deutschen leidet unter Vitamin-D-Mangel. Nun raten sogar Hautärzte: Geht raus in die Sonne! http://news.doccheck.com/de/article/209942-hueftbruch-vollevitamin-d-kraft-voraus/ Jakob Linseisen vom Helmholtz Zentrum München sitzt nach dem Mittagessen gern noch mit einer Tasse Kaffee in der Sonne. Nie käme er auf die Idee, sich vorher Sonnencreme auf die Haut zu schmieren. Und wenn er zu Besprechungen mit den Kollegen quer über den Campus laufen muss, krempelt er sich extra noch die Hemdsärmel hoch - damit auch ja genug Sonnenlicht auf seine Arme kommt. Natürlich weiß Linseisen, dass zu viel UV-Strahlung Hautkrebs verursachen kann. Aber der Ernährungswissenschaftler macht sich auch Sorgen, das die Menschen inzwischen zu wenig Sonnenlicht abbekommen. Denn durch die UV-Strahlung wird in der Haut das Hormon Vitamin D produziert, das unter anderem für stabile Knochen sorgt. In einer Stellungnahme der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE), für die Linseisen zusammen mit anderen Experten alle wichtigen Studien zu Vitamin D ausgewertet hat, kam er zu einem erschreckenden Ergebnis: Die Mehrheit der Deutschen leidet unter Vitamin-D-Mangel. Vor allem ältere Menschen sollten täglich 20 Mikrogramm des Vitamins zusätzlich aufnehmen, durch Tabletten oder durch mehr Sonnenlicht. Damit haben Linseisen und seine Kollegen unter Dermatologen eine hitzige Debatte ausgelöst: Ist es vertretbar, zu empfehlen, mehr in die Sonne zu gehen? Bislang dienten die Appelle der Hautärzte dazu, die Menschen von der krebserregenden UVStrahlung fernzuhalten. “Die Diskussion um den Vitamin-D-Mangel ist hochaktuell”, bestätigt Jörg Reichrath, Leitender Oberarzt an der Klinik für Dermatologie am Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, der ebenfalls an der DGE-Stellungnahme mitgearbeitet hat. “Da tut sich gerade sehr viel.” Auch die Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Prävention hat sich mit dem Thema befasst und wird demnächst gemeinsam mit anderen Verbänden neue Empfehlungen veröffentlichen. Bei älteren Menschen, so zeigen Studien, erhöht sich durch Vitamin-D-Mangel das Risiko von Knochenbrüchen. Bei Kindern Vitamin D 40 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamin-D-Mangel: Risiko für Senioren ab 60 besteht die Gefahr, an Rachitis zu erkranken, einer schmerzhaften Knochenverformung. Umgekehrt deutet einiges darauf hin, dass Menschen mit viel Vitamin D im Blut länger leben. Mercure Magazine 11 July 2012 Nur etwa zehn Prozent des Vitamins wird normalerweise mit der Nahrung aufgenommen; es ist besonders in fettem Fisch enthalten. Der Rest muss in der Haut mit Hilfe des Sonnenlichts gebildet werden. Rachitis und Knochenerweichung wurden daher zu Beginn der industriellen Revolution zu einem weitverbreiteten Problem, als Smog, Kellerwohnungen und 80-Stunden-Wochen in den Fabriken für ewige Dunkelheit sorgten. Zürich - Vitamin-D ist wichtig für Knochen und das Immunsystem. Neue Studie zeigen jetzt, dass vor allem ältere Menschen einem Mangel vorbeugen sollten. Senioren ab 60 sollten Vitamin-D-Mangel vorbeugen. Die Fähigkeit der Haut zur Vitamin-D-Bildung nimmt im Alter ab. Vitamin-D ist wichtig für die Regulierung des Calcium-Spiegels im Blut und beim Knochenaufbau. Kinder mit Vitamin-DMangel erkranken an Rachitis. Bei Erwachsenen begünstigt ein Vitamin D-Mangel einem Knochenabbau und erhöht das Knochenbruchrisiko. Außerdem sind Muskelschwäche und -schmerzen sowie ein erhöhtes Sturzrisiko Folgen des VitaminD-Mangels. Auch sind in der Wissenschaft negative Folgen für das Immunsystem, die Entwicklung von Herz-Kreislauf- und Krebserkrankungen beschrieben worden. “Doch auch heute fehlt den Menschen wieder zunehmend das Sonnenlicht”, sagt Linseisen. Viele Arbeitnehmer bewegen sich nur noch mit dem Auto zwischen Wohnung und dem Büro; Kinder hocken stundenlang vor dem Computer; Rentner dämmern im Altersheim dahin und kommen nur selten ins Freie. Dazu kommen all jene Hautkrebs-Phobiker, die sofort Sonnencreme mit Lichtschutzfaktor 50 auftragen, wenn die Wolken vom Himmel verschwinden. Bleibt als Ausweg also nur, regelmäßig Vitaminpillen zu schlucken? Zumindest für Babys, die nicht ungeschützt in die Sonne dürfen, gilt diese Empfehlung schon länger. Aber auch für Erwachsene? In den USA haben sich die Umsätze mit den Vitamin-D-Pillen seit 2001 mehr als verzehnfacht. Die Experten der DGE-Stellungnahme setzen lieber auf die natürliche Lösung. Linseisen rät zur Vitamintablette nur in solchen Fällen, in denen es nicht anders geht, etwa bei manchen alten Menschen. Ansonsten empfiehlt der Vitaminforscher: “Leute, geht raus in die Sonne!” Allerdings in Maßen: “Wir raten dringend davon ab, einen Vitamin-D-Mangel durch exzessive Sonnenbestrahlung oder Solariumsbesuche zu beheben”, sagt der Hautkrebsforscher Rüdiger Greinert vom Elbe Klinikum Buxtehude. “Aber gegen einen kurzen Sonnenspaziergang in der Mittagspause haben wir Dermatologen natürlich nichts einzuwenden.” Prof. Dr. med. Heike Annette Bischoff-Ferrari vom Zentrum Alter und Mobilität der Universität Zürich und Stadtspital Waid hat nun in einer Studie herausgefunden, dass ältere Patienten, die regelmäßig Vitamin-D einnehmen, sicherer gehen, seltener stürzen und weniger Knochenbrüche erleiden. Die Einnahme von Vitamin-D ist demnach eine günstige und effektive Maßnahme, um die Gesundheit im Alter zu erhalten. Auch die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE) empfiehlt daher seit kurzem die Einnahme von Vitamin-D. Vitamin-D wird zu rund 80 Prozent in der Haut mit Hilfe der UV-B Strahlung des Sonnenlichtes gebildet und zu rund 20 Prozent über Lebensmittel aufgenommen. Allerdings ist die Sonne keine verlässlich Quelle: in den Monaten November bis Mai reicht in ganz Europa die Sonnenintensität nicht aus. Für eine ausreichende Vitamin-D-Versorgung genüge es, so lautet auch die Empfehlung in dem DGE-Papier, von Frühling bis Herbst Hände, Arme und Gesicht mindestens dreimal pro Woche der Sonne auszusetzen - und zwar je nach Hauttyp zwischen 5 und 25 Minuten. Linseisen: “Wir müssen beim Umgang mit UV-Strahlung zur richtigen Balance zwischen Nutzen und Schaden kommen.” „Die Fähigkeit der Haut zur Vitamin-D-Bildung nimmt im Alter gegenüber einem 20-Jährigen um den Faktor vier ab“, sagt Prof. Dr. med. Ralf-Joachim Schulz Präsident der DGG. Sonnenschutz durch Kleidung oder (*) UV-Bestrahlung bei Kindern in Berlin. http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-86752112.html 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 41 Vitamin D Sonnencreme (ab Faktor 6) reduziert die hauteigene VitaminD-Produktion zudem deutlich. Außerdem enthalten nur wenige Lebensmittel Vitamin-D in größeren Mengen, dazu gehören fettreiche Fische, zum Beispiel Aale, und in deutlich geringerem Maße Margarine, einige Pilze und Eigelb. Altersmediziner empfehlen Vitamin -D als Nahrungsergänzung nächste Meldung Das Vitamin wird nach der Aufnahme über Nahrungsmittel oder die Bildung in der Haut zunächst in der Leber und danach in der Niere in die aktive Form umgewandelt. Senioren ab 60 Jahren sollten täglich 800 sogenannte Internationale Einheiten Vitamin-D als Narungsergänzung zu sich nehmen. http://www.merkur-online.de/gesundheit/allgemein/vitamin-dmangel-vorbeugensenioren-2387002.html Das empfehlen Wissenschaftler und Ärzte auf dem Jahreskongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geriatrie (DGG) Mitte September in Bonn. Studienergebnisse zeigen, dass Patienten, die 700 bis 1000 Internationale Einheiten Vitamin-D einnehmen, 34 Prozent seltener stürzen (British Medical Journal 2011) und 20 Prozent weniger Knochenbrüche erleiden (Archives of Internal Medicine 2009). Innovations Report 11 July 2012 Vitamin-D ist wichtig für die Regulierung des Calcium-Spiegels im Blut und beim Knochenaufbau. Kinder mit Vitamin-DMangel erkranken an Rachitis. Bei Erwachsenen begünstigt ein Vitamin D Mangel einem Knochenabbau und erhöht das Knochenbruchrisiko. Außerdem sind Muskelschwäche und -schmerzen sowie ein erhöhtes Sturzrisiko Folgen des VitaminD-Mangels. In den vergangenen Jahren sind außerdem mögliche negative Effekte des Vitamin-D-Mangels auf das Immunsystem, die Entwicklung von Herz-Kreislauf- und Krebserkrankungen beschrieben worden. Vitamin-D-Einnahme vermindert Stürze und Knochenbrüche In einer Übersichtsstudie konnte Prof. Dr. med. Heike Annette Bischoff-Ferrari vom Zentrum Alter und Mobilität der Universität Zürich und Stadtspital Waid die Daten von acht hochqualitativen Doppelblindstudien bezüglich Stürzen und zwölf Studien bezüglich Knochenbrüchen auswerten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Patienten, die 700 bis 1000 Internationale Einheiten Vitamin-D einnehmen, 34 Prozent seltener stürzen (British Medical Journal 2011) und 20 Prozent weniger Knochenbrüche erleiden (Archives of Internal Medicine 2009). Andere Studien bestätigen, dass alte Menschen die Vitamin-D einnehmen sicherer gehen, seltener stürzen und weniger Knochenbrüche erleiden. Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE) empfiehlt daher seit kurzem die Einnahme von Vitamin-D. ...mehr zu: Vitamin D 42 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Wichtige patientennahe Themen des Kongresses sind unter anderen: Gesunde Ernährung reicht nicht„Eine gesunde Ernährung reicht nicht aus, um den Bedarf älterer Menschen mit Vitamin-D zu decken“, betont der künftige Präsident der DGG (Präsidentelect) Prof. Dr. med. Ralf-Joachim Schulz aus Köln. Auch die Haut könne im Alter nicht mehr genug wichtige Vorstufen des aktiven Wirkstoffes bilden, um den Bedarf zu decken. „Die Fähigkeit der Haut zur Vitamin-D-Bildung nimmt im Alter gegenüber einem 20-Jährigen um den Faktor vier ab“, so Schulz. Der Ernährungsexperte verweist auf eigene Studien, wonach nur rund drei Prozent der Patienten, die in die geriatrische Abteilung eines Krankenhauses kommen, ausreichende Vitamin-DSpiegel haben. „Regelmäßig Vitamin-D einzunehmen ist eine kostengünstige und effektive Maßnahme, um seine Gesundheit im Alter zu erhalten“, ist er sich mit Bischoff-Ferrari einig. • „Demenz – ist Vorsorge möglich?“ • „Schlaf und Schlaflosigkeit im Alter“ • „Die Ernährung des alten Menschen“ • „Stress – Lebenselexier oder Risiko?“ • „Arzneimitteltherapie im Alter“ und vieles mehr. http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/medizin_ gesundheit/altersmediziner_empfehlen_vitamin_d_198798.html Zusatzinformationen zu Vitamin-D Vitamin-D wird zu rund 80 Prozent in derHaut mit Hilfe der UV-B Strahlung des Sonnenlichtes gebildet und zu rund 20 Prozent über Lebensmittel aufgenommen. Allerdings ist die Sonne keine verlässlich Quelle: in den Monaten November bis Mai reicht in ganz Europa die Sonnenintensität nicht aus. Sonnenschutz durch Kleidung oder Sonnencreme (ab Faktor 6) reduziert die hauteigene Vitamin-D-Produktion zudem deutlich. Außerdem enthalten nur wenige Lebensmittel Vitamin-D in größeren Mengen, dazu gehören fettreiche Fische, zum Beispiel Aale, und in deutlich geringerem Maße Margarine, einige Pilze und Eigelb. Das Vitamin wird nach der Aufnahme über Nahrungsmittel oder die Bildung in der Haut zunächst in der Leber und danach in der Niere in die aktive Form umgewandelt. Geriatriekongress Bonn 2012 Vom 12. bis 15. September 2012 findet im World-Conference Center in Bonn, dem ehemaligen Bundestag, das im deutschsprachigen Raum größte Treffen zum Thema Krankheit und Gesundheit im Alter statt. Der Titel des Kongresses ist Programm: „Alternsforschung: Transnational und translational“. „Gemeinsam schlagen wir auf dem Kongress eine Brücke zwischen klinisch-praktischer Arbeit und Forschung in der Altersmedizin“, sagte der Präsident-elect der DGG und Kongresspräsident, Prof. Dr. Ralf-Joachim Schulz aus Köln. Die DGG veranstaltet den Kongress gemeinsam mit der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gerontologie und Geriatrie e. V. (DGGG), der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Geriatrie und Gerontologie (ÖGGG), der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Gerontologie (SGG SSG) sowie der Schweizerischen Fachgesellschaft für Geriatrie (SFGG). 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 43 Vitamin D Nur viel Vitamin D schützt vor Knochenbrüchen Wintermonaten reicht die Strahlung nicht aus. Hinzu kommt, dass sich die meisten Menschen so kleiden, dass nur etwa fünf Prozent des Körpers der Sonne ausgesetzt sind. Ein weiterer Faktor sind die Sonnenschutzcremes. Die sind zwar wichtig, um uns vor dem schwarzen Hautkrebs, dem Melanom zu schützen. Aber es gibt einen Haken, so Bischoff-Ferrari: Dradio.de 12 July 2012 Noch immer gelten Hüftbrüche als die häufigsten Knochenbrüche überhaupt, besonders bei älteren Menschen. Grund genug, dass man inzwischen vor allem eines versucht: den Stürzen und damit den Knochenbrüchen vorzubeugen. Viel Vitamin D soll hier genau das Richtige sein, wie eine neue Studie im “New England Journal of Medicine” berichtet. “Man muss einfach wissen, dass der Sonnenschutzfaktor bereits ab einem Faktor 6 deutlich die hauteigene Vitamin D-Produktion vermindert, und das ist eben auch wichtig bei den Kindern, die konsequent den Sonnenschutz tragen.” Einfach raus an die Sonne, die Empfehlung reicht also nicht. Vor allem nicht bei älteren Menschen. Bischoff-Ferrari: Vitamin D scheint schon fast ein Universalheilmittel. Zumindest, wenn man den Forschungsergebnissen der letzten Jahre glaubt. Es stärkt Knochen und Muskeln, hilft dem Immunsystem, schützt vor Herzinfarkten und senkt damit die Sterberate. Auch die deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung hat Anfang des Jahres ihren Referenzwert auf 20 Mikrogramm pro Tag erhöht. Völlig zu Recht, meint auch Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, Ärztin am Zentrum für Alter und Mobilität der Universität Zürich. Sie hat die Originaldaten von über 30.000 älteren Menschen untersucht, die in Amerika, Europa und Australien an Studien zu Vitamin D teilgenommen hatten. Für ihre Analyse hat sie vier Gruppen gebildet, die jeweils verschieden hohe Dosierungen von Vitamin D bekommen hatten. “Bei den Älteren in der Bevölkerung kommt noch ein wichtiges zusätzliches Risiko mit dazu, nämlich die Tatsache, dass mit dem Alter die hauteigene Vitamin D-Produktion abnimmt, und das ist etwa ein Faktor 4 verglichen zu jüngeren Menschen.” Dabei haben gerade Leute über 60 Jahre Vitamin D besonders nötig. Das schützt nämlich nicht nur vor Knochenbrüchen, weil es eine bessere Calciumaufnahme aus dem Darm bewirkt und den Calciumeinbau in den Knochen fördert. Es hat auch noch einen positiven Effekt auf die Muskulatur. Die besitzt eigene Vitamin D-Rezeptoren, über die mehr Muskelproteine gebildet werden. Dadurch nehmen vor allem die sogenannten schnellen Muskelfasern vom Typ 2 zu, und zwar sowohl in der Anzahl als auch im Durchmesser. “Mit diesem Ansatz zeigte sich, dass nur die höchste eingenommene Dosierung von Vitamin D das Knochenbruchrisiko vermindert, und das aber signifikant, also es zeigte sich eine 30-prozentige Verminderung des Hüftbruchrisikos.” “Und das ist natürlich hochspannend, weil die Typ2 schnellen Muskelfasern sind die, die vor allem mit dem Alter abnehmen, und das sind aber auch gleichzeitig die Muskelfasern, die wir brauchen, um ein Sturzereignis abzufangen, da muss man ja ganz schnell reagieren. Und wir haben auch dort klinische Studien, die zeigen, dass man mit dieser Dosierung, eben um die 800 Einheiten Vitamin D das Sturzrisiko um etwa 34 Prozent vermindern kann.” 30 Prozent weniger Hüftbrüche, aber auch 14 Prozent weniger Frakturen an anderen Knochen wie am Handgelenk oder Oberarm. - Ein deutlicher Effekt, der aber nur mit einer Dosierung erreicht wurde, die 800 Einheiten oder 20 Mikrogramm pro Tag entspricht, also genau jener Menge, die offiziell empfohlen wird. Bei all jenen, die weniger geschluckt hatten, zeigte das Vitamin keinen Effekt. Doch wie kann man so grosse Mengen an Vitamin D überhaupt aufnehmen? Bischoff-Ferrari: Vitamin D-Präparate führen also zu weniger Stürzen und weniger Knochenbrüchen, dazu sind sie preiswert und haben keine schädlichen Nebenwirkungen. - Für Bischoff-Ferrari mehr als genügend Argumente, Vitamin D als Nahrungsergänzung für jeden ab 60 zu empfehlen. “Also die gesündeste Ernährung enthält nicht genug Vitamin D, ist die schlechte Nachricht. Die Hauptquelle von Vitamin D ist ja eigentlich die Sonne, wichtig hier ist einfach, dass die Sonne keine verlässliche Quelle ist für Vitamin D…” ...was gleich mehrere Ursachen hat. So ist die Sonne oberhalb des 33.Breitengrades zu wenig intensiv, damit die Haut immer genügend Vitamin D bilden kann. Vor allem in den Vitamin D http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/forschak/1810199/ 44 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamin D macht Knochen im Alter stabil DIE BILD Senioren: Viel Vitamin D macht die Knochen stabil 13 July 2012 netdoktor.de 13 July 2012 Mit viel Vitamin D kann Hüftbrüchen im Alter wirkungsvoll vorgebeugt werden. Das geht aus einer Analyse des Zentrums „Alter und Mobilität“ am Universitätsspital Zürich hervor. Die Studie ist in der aktuellen Ausgabe des „New England Journal of Medicine“ veröffentlicht. Weil die Knochen mit zunehmendem Alter zerbrechlicher werden, steigt das Bruchrisiko demnach ab 65 Jahren stetig. Vitamin D helfe, dies zu verhindern. Die Wissenschaftler haben die Daten von mehr als 30 000 älteren Menschen ausgewertet, die an elf klinischen Studien teilgenommen hatten. Berlin (dapd). Mit viel Vitamin D kann Hüftbrüchen im Alter wirkungsvoll vorgebeugt werden. Das geht aus einer Meta-Analyse des Zentrums «Alter und Mobilität» am Universitätsspital Zürich hervor. Die Studie ist in der aktuellen Ausgabe des «New England Journal of Medicine» veröffentlicht. Weil die Knochen mit zunehmendem Alter zerbrechlicher werden, steigt das Bruchrisiko demnach ab 65 Jahren stetig. Vitamin D helfe, dies zu verhindern, allerdings nur bei hoher Dosierung. Diese sollte nach den Erkenntnissen der Schweizer Forscher um Heike Bischoff-Ferrari bei mindestens 800 Internationalen Einheiten (IE) pro Tag liegen. http://www.bild.de/newsticker-meldungen/ratgeber/medizin/ vitamin-d-macht-knochen-im-alter-stabil-25136910.bild.html http://www.netdoktor.de/News/Senioren-Viel-Vitamin-Dmac-1137067.html 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 45 Vitamin D Das Sonnenvitamin macht die Knochen stark Die Internationale Osteoporose Stiftung (IOF) empfiehlt VitaminD-Ergänzungen für alle Erwachsenen, die 60 Jahre oder älter sind, da Vitamin D erwiesenermaßen Stürze und Frakturen verringert. „Die Kombination aus einem körperlich aktiven Leben, einer kalziumreichen Ernährung und einer ausreichenden Vitamin-D-Versorgung bietet enorme Möglichkeiten, die Gesundheit von Knochen und Muskeln zu verbessern und das Risiko für eine Osteoporose zu senken“, sagt Frau Professor Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, Leiterin des Zentrums für Alter und Mobilität der Universität Zürich. gesund-durch 28 August 2012 Kalzium ist gut für die Knochengesundheit, kann aber ohne Vitamin D nicht aktiv warden (dbp/auh) Kalzium macht die Knochen stark. Das weiß jedes Kind. Aber wer weiß schon, dass Vitamin D mindestens genauso wichtig ist? „Vitamin D hilft dem Körper, Kalzium und Phosphat in die Knochen einzulagern und sorgt so für ein stabiles und belastbares Skelett und feste Zähne“, erklärt Nicole Battenfeld, Ernährungswissenschaftlerin bei der Techniker Krankenkasse. Außerdem unterstützt es das Immunsystem . „Nur etwa 20 Prozent des Vitamin-D- Bedarfs kann man mit der richtigen Ernährung abdecken“, sagt Battenfeld. VitaminD-reiche Lebensmittel stehen allerdings bei den wenigsten Menschen regelmäßig auf dem Speiseplan, denn dazu gehören in erster Linie fette Fische wie Hering und Makrele, in deutlich geringerem Maße Leber, Avocado, Eigelb und einige Speisepilze. Ohne Sonne keine körpereigene Vitaminproduktion Der Informationsflyer „Bone Appetit“ des Kuratorium Knochengesundheit e.V. informiert umfassend und gemäß dem aktuellen wissenschaftlichem Erkenntnisstand über die Grundlagen knochengesunder Ernährung. Er weist Lebensmittel mit hohem Kalzium- und Vitamin-D-Gehalt aus und bietet einen kleinen Ernährungsfahrplan, mit dessen Hilfe man knochengesunde Kost einfach in den Alltag einbauen kann. Der Flyer „Bone Appetit“ kann gegen 1,45 Euro in Briefmarken zzgl. eines mit 0,55 Euro frankierten Rückumschlages angefordert werden beim: Kuratorium Knochengesundheit e.V., Stichwort „Flyer Bone Appetit“, Leipziger Str. 6, 74889 Sinsheim Den weitaus größten Teil des Vitamins bildet der Körper selbst: in der Haut mit Hilfe der UV-B-Strahlen der Sonne. Die dafür nötige Sonneneinstrahlung ist in unseren Breiten nur von April bis Oktober ausreichend. Daher kann es in den Wintermonaten zu einer Unterversorgung kommen. Nach Angaben der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE) sind rund 60 Prozent der Deutschen nicht ausreichend mit Vitamin D versorgt. Folge eines längeren Vitamin-D-Mangels könnte zum Beispiel Osteoporose sein. Neue Zufuhrempfehlung der DGE Neuesten Empfehlungen der DGE zufolge sollte ein Erwachsener täglich 20 Mikrogramm Vitamin D aufnehmen statt wie bisher 5 Mikrogramm. Besonders ältere Menschen müssen auf eine gute Vitamin D-Versorgung achten, denn mit zunehmendem Alter nimmt die körpereigene Fähigkeit zur Bildung von Vitamin D stark ab. Dadurch kann es zu einer Knochenerweichung mit Muskelschwäche und Knochenschmerzen, der Osteomalazie, kommen. Zur Vorbeugung sollten gerade ältere Menschen täglich mindestens eine halbe Stunde im Freien verbringen. Vitamin D 46 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings International Osteoporosis Foundation launches vitamin D map Vitamin D insufficiency stats reveal a bleak picture NutraIngredients.com FoodBev.com 3 September 3 September 2012 The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has launched an interactive map that details global vitamin D consumption levels. DSM, which contributed to the map’s construction, said the results highlighted vitamin D deficiencies around the world. “There is far too little data available, for example, in relation to adolescents and young people, and across the developing world in general. These maps are an important starting point, but it is essential that research continues to better understand the scale of vitamin D insufficiency,” said DSM Nutritonal Products’ Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior vice president in nutrition science and advocacy. Both called for policy makers around the world to prioritise the issue, especially in countries with low sunlight levels, or among demographaics like non-Hispanic blacks in the US, where deficiencies rise as high as 70%. Vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to a range of bone development and bone strength issues as well as rickets in children and other ailments. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has launched an interactive global map of vitamin D status, which presents a snapshot of vitamin D levels worldwide. Key findings Judy Stenmark, CEO of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, said: “IOF urges people at risk of osteoporosis and generally all seniors aged 60 years and older to ensure optimal levels of vitamin D. In these high risk groups IOF recommends 800-1000 IU/day supplementation for fall and fracture prevention.” • Overall, insufficient vitamin D levels were detected in more than one third of the study population. • Vitamin D insufficiency affects the developing world and industrialised world. • The main source of vitamin D is sunlight, but even in sunny countries, vitamin D levels are generally low and below recommended levels (taking India as example: a sunny country, yet with low vitamin D status). • Rates of vitamin D insufficiency are higher among women than men. • It’s estimated that 50–70% of the European adult population have insufficient levels of vitamin D. • In US adults, vitamin D insufficiency estimates range from 20% (non-Hispanic whites) to 70% (non-Hispanic blacks). • Older people are especially at risk for vitamin D insufficiency, including older women who are a risk group for osteoporosis, and those living indoors in institutionalised care. “With the launch of these maps, we are calling on health professionals to be aware of the status of vitamin D insufficiency within their own country and urge them to take simple and inexpensive steps to correct it. This will ultimately improve, and even save, lives.” Professor Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, PhD, Director of the Centre on Aging and Mobility at the University of Zurich added: “The reality is that natural production of vitamin D through sunlight decreases with age, and it is very difficult to achieve sufficient vitamin D through diet alone, especially in the senior population. The good news is that vitamin D supplementation offers an effective, inexpensive, and safe public health strategy that can make a significant difference to people’s health and quality of life, by reducing 30% of falls and hip fracture.” The maps can be found here . The map and accompanying publication confirm that vitamin D insufficiency is a major public health issue in the developing and industrialised world, with more than one third of all the populations studied showing insufficient levels of vitamin D. http://www.nutraingredients.com/Industry/InternationalOsteoporosis-Foundation-launches-vitamin-D-map 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 47 Vitamin D DSM, which contributed to developing the data and the map, ‘strongly supports’ IOF’s call for healthcare decision makers to take immediate action to address vitamin D insufficiency as a priority public policy issue, and emphasise the role of supplementation as a key tool for addressing this problem. Bringing the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’ Out of the Shadows http://www.foodbev.com/news/vitamin-d-insufficiency-statsreveal-a-b This week marked a very important event in what is a very important year for vitamins - the 100th anniversary of their discovery. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), with the assistance of DSM, has just launched a major mapping exercise designed to better understand the global vitamin D situation. The conclusion is clear: it’s time to bring the “sunshine vitamin” out of the shadows. HuffingtonPost 3 September 2012 Before we explore the findings and their significance it’s important to remind ourselves of the role that vitamin D plays in human health. Vitamin D is essential for building and maintaining healthy bones and muscle strength, and we all need it in early childhood to prevent rickets, and throughout adulthood for healthy bones, and especially into old age to avoid osteoporosis. So what do the maps tell us? Well, for a start, they provide the most complete picture yet of the global vitamin D deficiency situation. Unfortunately, this picture confirms many of our worst fears about vitamin D. More than a third of people worldwide, in both the developing and industrialized world, are lacking in vitamin D, with, for example, an estimated 50 -70 % of the European adult population having insufficient vitamin D levels. And Asia, with a few exceptions - Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam - showed a widespread insufficient vitamin D status across different countries. Despite sunlight being the main source of vitamin D, even in sunny countries and regions such as India and the Middle East, Vitamin D levels are generally low and below recommended levels. It also confirms the elderly as a population group that is particularly vulnerable to deficiency. This raises some fundamental questions. Firstly, we are faced with numerous global health problems, so how “major” is vitamin D? And, secondly, what should be done about it? The latest estimate is that 9 million osteoporotic fractures occur worldwide every year, and in the European Union (EU) someone has a fracture as a result of osteoporosis every 30 seconds. With an ageing population, the yearly incidence of hip fracture alone in the EU is expected to more than double over the next decade. Vitamin D 48 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings The research shows that in the US, where certain foods such as milk, yoghurt, juices and cereals are routinely fortified with vitamin D, the overall vitamin D status is significantly higher compared to other regions. There are other factors involved, of course, but I don’t think this is a coincidence. So if we are agreed that the human costs of vitamin D deficiency are unacceptable and we must act now to address it, what form should this action take? There are two main sources of Vitamin D; people’s diet; and, the most important source, sunlight. The solution would therefore appear to be fairly straightforward: ensure that people get enough vitamin D through exposure to sunlight and their diet. The reality is somewhat different. And vitamin D supplements have been found to reduce the risk of falls and hip fractures by 30%, safely and inexpensively. The IOF recommends vitamin D supplementation for everyone over the age of 60 - around 75% of hip fractures occur in people 65 years and older - as well as for those who are known to be deficient or at high risk of osteoporosis. Although it is possible to meet vitamin D needs through diet, the reality is that even if you eat all the right foods this is still difficult to achieve. This is compounded by the fact that for cultural, economic and practical reasons not everybody can have access to, or would want to eat, enough of the right vitamin rich foods. I am a big fan of eggs - but I would not, for example, want to eat 40 a day to reach my recommended daily intake! And many people cannot access or afford the fatty fish that are the best source of vitamin D. The maps also tell us that significant gaps exist in our knowledge and understanding of vitamin D status between and within different countries and regions. The data is, for example, limited for Africa, Central and South America. And, in terms of population groups, the most striking data gaps are found in children and adolescents. Just as my company DSM supported the mapping work of the IOF, we will work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that these gaps are filled. Again, you would have thought that getting enough vitamin D through sun exposure would be pretty straightforward; however, as the Maps confirm, it is anything but. There are many reasons for this, including: geographical location (poor UVB at higher latitudes), lack of sun during winter months, wearing concealing clothing and modern lifestyles with limited outdoor activity. And, of course, we also need to be very careful about sun exposure. So whilst the increasing use of sun screen protects . When I step back and think about the mapping exercise and what it all means, I am torn between two emotions: frustration on the one hand, and optimism on the other. Frustration that even 100 years on from the first discovery of vitamins, people around the world are still frequently not getting enough of the vitamins that they need and suffer unnecessarily because of this. Yet I am also optimistic that if action is taken to take the “sunshine vitamin” out of the shadows through greater awareness, an increase in the recommended intake, fortifying more foods, enabling proper access to supplements, and educating consumers about their choices, then this is a battle that we can win. Various socio-economic and demographic developments are also working against our ability to generate vitamin D. You can see this in countries such as India, where the shift from an agrarian to a more modern and diversified economy means that people are spending less time working outside and more of their time in offices and factories. Our ageing populations are creating additional challenges in relation to vitamin D. This is partly because the capacity of elderly people to generate vitamin D through sunlight deteriorates with age, but also because more and more are house-bound or living in institutional settings. Too many are quite literally living in the shadows. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/stephan-b-tanda/vitamind_b_1851391.html Diet and sunlight exposure are therefore key to combating vitamin D deficiency, and awareness of their importance has to be raised, but an effective strategy has to take account of their limitations and find additional ways to close the vitamin D gaps. This is where food fortification and supplements become so important. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 49 Vitamin D Majority of adults risk bone health from chronic Vitamin D deficiency improving muscle strength, balance, and leg function which decreases the risk of falling and sustaining a fracture in the first place. As a consequence, vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures. Elixir News 3 September 2012 Studies show that adequate vitamin D can reduce the risk of falls and fractures by around 30%[4]. In Germany, research indicated that regular vitamin D supplements can help achieve healthcare cost savings of between Euro 585-778 million in one country alone[5]. An estimated 50-70% of adults are at risk of the bone disease, osteoporosis and other health problems, as a result of a deficiency in vitamin D. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) today published evidence of what is describes as “a major public health issue” with a global map of vitamin D status worldwide. Judy Stenmark, CEO of the International Osteoporosis Foundation commented: “IOF urges people at risk of osteoporosis and generally all seniors aged 60 years and older to ensure optimal levels of vitamin D. In these high risk groups IOF recommends 800-1000 IU/day supplementation for fall and fracture prevention. With the launch of these maps, we are calling on health professionals to be aware of the status of vitamin D insufficiency within their own country and urge them to take simple and inexpensive steps to correct it. This will ultimately improve, and even save, lives.” “The map and accompanying publication confirm that vitamin D insufficiency is a major public health issue in both the developing and industrialized world, with more than one third of all the populations studied, showing insufficient levels of vitamin D[2],” says the IOF. DSM, the life science company, which contributed to developing the data and the map, strongly supports IOF’s call for healthcare decision makers to take immediate action to address vitamin D insufficiency as a priority public policy issue, and emphasize the role of supplementation as a key tool for addressing this problem. Prof. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, DrPH, Director Centre on Aging and Mobility, University of Zurich added: “The reality is that natural production of vitamin D through sunlight decreases with age, and it is very difficult to achieve sufficient vitamin D through diet alone, especially in the senior population. The good news is that vitamin D supplementation offers an effective, inexpensive, and safe public health strategy that can make a significant difference to people’s health and quality of life, by reducing 30% of falls and hip fracture.” Key findings include: • Overall, insufficient vitamin D levels were detected in more than one third of the study population • Vitamin D insufficiency affects both the developing world and industrialized world • The main source of vitamin D is sunlight, but even in sunny countries, vitamin D levels are generally low and below recommended levels (taking India as example: a sunny country; yet, with low vitamin D status) • Rates of vitamin D insufficiency are higher amongst women than men • It is estimated that 50 -70 % of the European adult population have insufficient levels of vitamin D • In US adults, vitamin D insufficiency estimates range from 20% (non-Hispanic whites) - 70 % (non-Hispanic blacks). • Older people are especially at risk for vitamin D insufficiency, including older women who are a risk group for osteoporosis and those living indoors in institutionalised care. Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President Nutrition Science & Advocacy DSM commented: “The maps are a major advance in the fight against vitamin D deficiency. We know that vitamin D deficiency is linked to serious diseases such as rickets in children and osteoporosis in the elderly, but our understanding of the scale and extent of the problem was far too limited. We now have a much better understanding of the picture of vitamin D insufficiency, and confirmation of its importance as a global public health issue. The map has also created a very clear picture as to where the vitamin D insufficiency knowledge gaps exist and where further research is required. Dr Eggersdorfer added, “There is far too little data available, for example, in relation to adolescents and young people, and across the developing world in general. Osteoporosis is a serious chronic disease which affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Vitamin D improves bone mineral density, which lowers risk of fracture, whilst also Vitamin D 50 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings • Most regions offer some data, however no information was available for Central America, South America (except Brazil) and much of Africa. • The most striking data gaps are found in children and adolescents These maps are an important starting point, but it is essential that research continues to better understand the scale of vitamin D insufficiency.” DSM joins IOF in calling on healthcare policymakers to raise awareness of vitamin D insufficiency and to take action to ensure intake of recommended vitamin D levels, including through safe and effective measures such as food fortification, access to proper supplements and better consumer education. Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM’s 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of around €9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. About the map - drawing on scientific studies from across the world, the maps color code levels of vitamin D status based on national scientific data, with green indicating an optimal/ desirable vitamin D status, and yellow as (in-) adequate or suboptimal. Orange highlights vitamin D blood levels below 50 nmol/l which are considered insufficient, and red indicates severe vitamin D deficiency (below 25nmol/l) based on a sliding scale[6]. The maps will be updated annually and provide researchers, medical practitioners and policymakers with an invaluable resource in the fight against vitamin D deficiency. More information can be found at www.dsm.com http://www.elixirnews.com/news/majority_of_adults_face_ health_risk_from_lack_of_vitamin_d.html The maps can be found on the website of the International Osteoporosis Foundation at www.iofbonehealth.org. Additional country findings include: • In Germany 57% of men and 58% of women had vitamin D status below recommended levels, rising to 75% amongst 6579 year olds • UK studies focused on older people reveal that nearly two thirds of women (57%), and half of men (49%) are not getting enough vitamin D • In the Netherlands, around half of all study participants had sub-optimal vitamin D levels • In the US, around 30% of the study population has suboptimal vitamin D levels, rising to around 70% amongst participants with black skin color, highlighting skin color as a risk factor for vitamin D insufficiency. Overall the US vitamin D status was significantly higher compared to other regions, which may in part, be attributable to the routine fortification of foods with vitamin D (such as milk, juice and cereals) • The Middle East revealed lower vitamin D status compared to Europe which could result from cultural factors such as clothing and lifestyle. • Asia showed a widespread insufficient vitamin D status across different countries. with a few exceptions (vitamin D status was ranked desirable in Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam ) 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 51 Vitamin D Global vitamin D map launched DSM calls for urgent action to address major public health issue As a consequence, vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures. Studies show that adequate vitamin D can reduce the risk of falls and fractures by around 30%[4][4]. In Germany, research indicated that regular vitamin D supplements can help achieve healthcare cost savings of between Euro 585-778 million in one country alone[5]. FoodBeverageAsia 4 September 2012 The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) launched an interactive global map of vitamin D status, which presents a snapshot of vitamin D levels worldwide. The map and accompanying publication[1][1] confirm that vitamin D insufficiency is a major public health issue in both the developing and industrialized world, with more than one third of all the populations studied, showing insufficient levels of vitamin D[2][2]. Judy Stenmark, CEO of the International Osteoporosis Foundation commented: “IOF urges people at risk of osteoporosis and generally all seniors aged 60 years and older to ensure optimal levels of vitamin D. In these high risk groups IOF recommends 800-1000 IU/day supplementation for fall and fracture prevention. With the launch of these maps, we are calling on health professionals to be aware of the status of vitamin D insufficiency within their own country and urge them to take simple and inexpensive steps to correct it. This will ultimately improve, and even save, lives.” DSM, which contributed to developing the data and the map, strongly supports IOF’s call for healthcare decision makers to take immediate action to address vitamin D insufficiency as a priority public policy issue, and emphasize the role of supplementation as a key tool for addressing this problem. Key findings include: Prof. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, DrPH, Director Centre on Aging and Mobility, University of Zurich added: “The reality is that natural production of vitamin D through sunlight decreases with age, and it is very difficult to achieve sufficient vitamin D through diet alone, especially in the senior population. The good news is that vitamin D supplementation offers an effective, inexpensive, and safe public health strategy that can make a significant difference to people’s health and quality of life, by reducing 30% of falls and hip fracture4.” • Overall, insufficient vitamin D levels were detected in more than one third of the study population[3][3] • Vitamin D insufficiency affects both the developing world and industrialized world • The main source of vitamin D is sunlight, but even in sunny countries, vitamin D levels are generally low and below recommended levels (taking India as example: a sunny country; yet, with low vitamin Dstatus) • Rates of vitamin D insufficiency are higher amongst women than men • It is estimated that 50 -70 % of the European adult population have insufficient levels of vitamin D • In US adults, vitamin D insufficiency estimates range from 20% (non-Hispanic whites) - 70 % (non-Hispanic,blacks). • Older people are especially at risk for vitamin D insufficiency, including older women who are a risk group for osteoporosis, and those living indoors in institutionalised care. Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President Nutrition Science & Advocacy DSM commented: “The maps are a major advance in the fight against vitamin D deficiency. We know that vitamin D deficiency is linked to serious diseases such as rickets in children and osteoporosis in the elderly, but our understanding of the scale and extent of the problem was far too limited. We now have a much better understanding of the picture of vitamin D insufficiency, and confirmation of its importance as a global public health issue. The map has also created a very clear picture as to where the vitamin D insufficiency knowledge gaps exist and where further research is required. Dr Eggersdorfer added, “There is far too little data available, for example, in relation to adolescents and young people, and across the developing world in general. Osteoporosis is a serious chronic disease which affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Vitamin D improves bone mineral density, which lowers risk of fracture, whilst also improving muscle strength, balance, and leg function which decreases the risk of falling and sustaining a fracture in the first place. Vitamin D 52 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings These maps are an important starting point, but it is essential that research continues to better understand the scale of vitamin D insufficiency. Internationale Osteoporose Stichting lanceert online Vitamine D DSM joins IOF in calling on healthcare policymakers to raise awareness of vitamin D insufficiency and to take action to ensure intake of recommended vitamin D levels, including through safe and effective measures such as food fortification, access to proper supplements and better consumer education. 5 September 2012 Voeding Nu De International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) heeft een online kaart gelanceerd waarop staat hoe het met de vitamine D-status is gesteld in bepaalde landen. De kaart werd mede mogelijk gemaakt door DSM, leverancier van onder andere vitamine D.De kleuren op de kaart geven aan of de vitamine D-status optimaal, sub-optimaal of ontoereikend is of dat er sprake is van een vitamine D-tekort. Voor de samenstelling van de kaart zijn 200 onderzoeken uit 46 landen gebruikt, die zijn gepubliceerd tussen 1990 en 2011. De IOF wil met de kaart een hulpmiddel bieden aan zorgprofessionals die te maken hebben met het bestrijden van vitamine D-tekorten. http://foodbeverageasia.com/detail.php?tid=2164. – Food and Beverage Asia Vitamine D-status Professor Bess Dawson-Hughes, algemeen secretaris van de IOF, zegt: ‘De kaart geeft informatie over vitamine D-tekorten in veel gebieden van de wereld en over verschillende bevolkingsgroepen. Het aantal ouderen groeit over de hele wereld. Vitamine D-tekorten kosten de gezondheidszorg van landen wereldwijd veel geld. Het is dus belangrijk om iedereen wakker te schudden en duidelijk te maken hoe belangrijk een optimale vitamine D-status is.’ http://www.voedingnu.nl/internationale-osteoporose-stichtinglanceert.173895.lynkx 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 53 Vitamin D DSM und die Internationale Osteoporose Foundation Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President Nutrition Science & Advocacy DSM: “Die Karten sind ein großer Schritt im Kampf gegen den Vitamin-D-Mangel. Wir wissen, dass ein Mangel Krankheiten wie Rachitis bei Kindern und Osteoporose bei Älteren begünstigen kann, aber bisher wussten wir noch zu wenig darüber. Jetzt können wir uns ein viel besseres Bild vom Vitamin-D-Mangel machen und von seinen Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit.“ Krm-media.de September 2012 Die Internationale Osteoporose Foundation (IOF) hat eine interaktive weltweite Karte des Vitamin-D-Status der Bevölkerung verschiedener Länder vorgestellt. Die Karte und die dazugehörige Publikation verdeutlichen, dass ein VitaminD-Mangel ein Gesundheitsproblem sowohl in den Entwicklungsals auch den Industrieländern darstellt. Wer mehr erfahren möchte, folgt dem weiterführenden Link zur englischsprachigen Seite http://www.krm-media.de/gesundheit/gesundheitsratgeber/11516dsm-und-die-internationale-osteoporose-foundation-.html DSM hat bei der Entwicklung der Karten geholfen und unterstützt die IOF dabei, auf dieses Problem aufmerksam zu machen. Wichtige Ergebnisse: Insgesamt wurde ein Vitamin-D-Mangel bei einem Drittel der untersuchten Bevölkerung festgestellt (Blood levels below 50 nmol/l considered as insufficient) Ein Vitamin-D-Mangel kommt sowohl in Entwicklungs- als auch Industrieländern vor. Obwohl Sonne die wichtigste Quelle für Vitamin D ist, ist der Status auch in sonnigen Ländern generell niedrig und unterhalb der empfohlenen Level. (In Indien beispielsweise ist der Vitamin-DStatus niedrig, obwohl es ein sonniges Land ist). Mehr Frauen als Männer sind betroffen. Schätzungsweise 50-70% der Erwachsenen in Europa haben ein niedriges Vitamin-D-Level. Ältere Menschen sind besonders gefährdet, insbesondere ältere Frauen gehören zu den Risikogruppen für Osteoporose. Ebenfalls gefährdet sind Menschen, die in Institutionen leben und sich hauptsächlich drinnen aufhalten. Osteoporose ist eine ernste chronische Erkrankung die hunderte Millionen Menschen betrifft. Studien haben gezeigt, dass Vitamin D das Risiko von Stürzen und Knochenbrüchen um etwa 30% senken kann . Untersuchungen in Deutschland haben ergeben, dass eine regelmäßige Vitamin-D-Zufuhr die Gesundheitskosten eines Landes zwischen 585-778 Millionen Euro senken kann . (Mueller,2009 and Grant, 2009 Judy Stenmark, CEO der International Osteoporosis Foundation: “Die IOF rät Menschen mit einem Osteoporoserisiko und generell Menschen über 60 Jahren ausreichend Vitamin D zuzuführen. Bei diesen Risikogruppen liegt die empfohlene tägliche Zufuhr bei 800-1000 IU.” Vitamin D 54 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamin D insufficiency is a major public health issue This could ultimately improve, and even save, many lives. Experts have noted that the body’s natural ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight decreases with age, making it very difficult to achieve sufficient vitamin D levels through the diet alone, especially in the elderly. Vitamin D supplementation therefore offers an effective, inexpensive, and safe public health alternative that can make a significant difference to people’s health and quality of life, possibly reducing falls and hip fractures by up to 30%. Nutri-facts.org 14 September 2012 The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has launched an interactive global map based on a review of literature published between 1990 and 2011, which confirms that more than one third of all the populations studied in the developing and industrialized world show insufficient levels of vitamin D. The map (1) and an accompanying publication (2) show that vitamin D deficiency affects both the developing and industrialized world, with deficient statuses detected in more than one third of the populations studied. It is estimated that 50–70% of the European adult population have insufficient levels of vitamin D (mean 25(OH)D values below 50 nmol/L). In US adults, vitamin D deficiency estimates range from 20% (non-Hispanic whites) to 70% (non-Hispanic blacks).The main source of vitamin D is sunlight, but even in sunny countries such as India, vitamin D levels are generally low and remain below the recommended amounts. Rates of vitamin D deficiency are higher amongst women than men. Older people are particularly at risk of vitamin D deficiency, particularly older women, who are an at-risk group for osteoporosis, and those living indoors in institutionalized care. http://www.nutri-facts.org/eng/news/detail/backPid/859/ article/vitamin-d-insufficiency-is-a-major-public-healthissue/#c7537 Osteoporosis is a serious chronic disease which affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Vitamin D improves bone mineral density, which lowers the risk of fracture, while also improving muscle strength, balance and leg function, which lowers the risk of falling and sustaining a fracture in the first place. As a consequence, vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures. Studies show that adequate vitamin D levels can reduce the risk of falls and fractures by around 30% (3). In Germany, research has indicated that regular supplementation of vitamin D can help achieve healthcare cost savings of between €585-778 million in one country alone (4). The IOF is urging people at risk of osteoporosis, and generally all seniors aged 60 or over, to ensure they have an optimal intake of vitamin D. For these high-risk groups, the IOF recommends a daily supplementa-tion of 800¬-1000 IU in order to prevent falls and fractures. With the launch of these maps, the IOF is calling on health professionals to take note of the level of vitamin D deficiency within their own countries and is urging them to take simple and inexpensive steps to correct it. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 55 Vitamin D DSM und die Internationale Osteoporose Foundation Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President Nutrition Science & Advocacy DSM: “Die Karten sind ein großer Schritt im Kampf gegen den Vitamin-D-Mangel. Wir wissen, dass ein Mangel Krankheiten wie Rachitis bei Kindern und Osteoporose bei Älteren begünstigen kann, aber bisher wussten wir noch zu wenig darüber. Jetzt können wir uns ein viel besseres Bild vom Vitamin-D-Mangel machen und von seinen Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit.“ cityblick24 ... stellen weltweite Vitamin-D-Karten vor Die Internationale Osteoporose Foundation (IOF) hat eine interaktive weltweite Karte des Vitamin-D-Status der Bevölkerung verschiedener Länder vorgestellt. Die Karte und die dazugehörige Publikation verdeutlichen, dass ein Vitamin-DMangel ein Gesundheitsproblem sowohl in den Entwicklungsals auch den Industrieländern darstellt. DSM hat bei der Entwicklung der Karten geholfen und unterstützt die IOF dabei, auf dieses Problem aufmerksam zu machen. Wichtige Ergebnisse: Insgesamt wurde ein Vitamin-D-Mangel bei einem Drittel der untersuchten Bevölkerung festgestellt (Blood levels below 50 nmol/l considered as insufficient) Wer mehr erfahren möchte, folgt dem weiterführenden Link zur englischsprachigen Seite - www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-andstatistics/vitamin-d-studies-map http://www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-and-statistics/vitamin-dstudies-map Ein Vitamin-D-Mangel kommt sowohl in Entwicklungs- als auch Industrieländern vor. Obwohl Sonne die wichtigste Quelle für Vitamin D ist, ist der Status auch in sonnigen Ländern generell niedrig und unterhalb der empfohlenen Level. (In Indien beispielsweise ist der Vitamin-D-Status niedrig, obwohl es ein sonniges Land ist). Mehr Frauen als Männer sind betroffen. Schätzungsweise 50-70% der Erwachsenen in Europa haben ein niedriges Vitamin-D-Level. Ältere Menschen sind besonders gefährdet, insbesondere ältere Frauen gehören zu den Risikogruppen für Osteoporose. Ebenfalls gefährdet sind Menschen, die in Institutionen leben und sich hauptsächlich drinnen aufhalten. Osteoporose ist eine ernste chronische Erkrankung die hunderte Millionen Menschen betrifft. Studien haben gezeigt, dass Vitamin D das Risiko von Stürzen und Knochenbrüchen um etwa 30% senken kann . Untersuchungen in Deutschland haben ergeben, dass eine regelmäßige Vitamin-D-Zufuhr die Gesundheitskosten eines Landes zwischen 585-778 Millionen Euro senken kann . (Mueller, 2009 and Grant, 2009 Judy Stenmark, CEO der International Osteoporosis Foundation: “Die IOF rät Menschen mit einem Osteoporoserisiko und generell Menschen über 60 Jahren ausreichend Vitamin D zuzuführen. Bei diesen Risikogruppen liegt die empfohlene tägliche Zufuhr bei 800-1000 IU.” Vitamin D 56 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings IOF launches global vitamin D map Posted on As a consequence, vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures. Studies show that adequate vitamin D can reduce the risk of falls and fractures by about 30%. In Germany, research indicated that regular vitamin D supplements can help achieve healthcare cost savings of €585-778 million ($759-1,009 million) in one country alone. Asia food journal gesund - durch 19 October 2012 The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has launched an interactive global map of vitamin D status, which presents a snapshot of vitamin D levels worldwide. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has launched an interactive global map of vitamin D status, which presents a snapshot of vitamin D levels worldwide. The map and accompanying publication confirm that vitamin D insufficiency is a major public health issue in both the developing and industrialized world, with more than one third of all the populations studied, shopowing insufficient levels of vitamin D. DSM, which contributed to developing the data and the map, strongly supports IOF’s call for healthcare decision makers to take immediate action to address vitamin D insufficiency as a priority public policy issue, and emphasize the role of supplementation as a key tool for addressing this problem. http://www.asiafoodjournal.com/article/iof-launches-globalvitamin-d-map/8372 Key findings include: • Overall, insufficient vitamin D levels were detected in more than one third of the study population. • Vitamin D insufficiency affects both the developing world and industrialized world. • The main source of vitamin D is sunlight, but even in sunny countries, vitamin D levels are generally low and below recommended levels (taking India as example: a sunny country; yet, with low vitamin D status). • The rates of vitamin D insufficiency are higher amongst women than men. • It is estimated that 50-70 % of the European adult population has insufficient levels of vitamin D. • In US adults, vitamin D insufficiency estimates range from 20% (non-Hispanic whites) – 70% (non-Hispanic blacks). • Older people are especially at risk for vitamin D insufficiency, including older women who are a risk group for osteoporosis, and those living indoors in institutionalised care. Osteoporosis is a serious chronic disease which affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Vitamin D improves bone mineral density, which lowers risk of fracture, whilst also improving muscle strength, balance, and leg function which decreases the risk of falling and sustaining a fracture in the first place. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 57 Vitamin D Vitamin D Status Weltkarte erstellt (vitamin D map launch) Vitamin D 58 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamin E 59 Forgotten vitamin would help cut premature births ‘by 30%’ Food Manucfacture.co.uk 17 October 2012 The number of premature babies born in the UK could be reduced by as much as 30% if expectant mothers had adequate intakes of vitamin E. The number of premature babies born in the UK could be reduced by as much as 30% if expectant mothers had adequate intakes of vitamin E. This is a particular issue in the UK, where 54,000 babies are born prematurely each year in England alone. Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, vice president of Switzerland-based DSM Nutrition, last night (Tuesday, October 16) told a vitamins seminar that greater education, fortification of products and supplements for specific at risk groups was essential to tackle inadequate vitamin E levels. THIS CONTENT IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED However, if you would like to share the information in this article, you may use the headline, summary and link below: http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Ingredients/Forgottenvitamin-would-help-cut-premature-births-by-30 http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2012/07/dsm-helpsdutch-athletes-go-for-olympic-gold.aspx Vitamin E 60 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Olympic nutrition 61 DSM Backs Dutch and German Olympians with Nutrient DSM and Dutch Olympic Committee Partner on “Optimum Sports Nutrition” Solutions Nutra-Ingredients.com Nutritionhorizon.com 24 July 2012 24 July 2012 DSM is using the Olympic Games to highlight its sports nutrition offerings like carotenoids and vitamin D by sponsoring different teams within the Dutch and German contingents at the London Olympiad which begins on Friday. DSM is applying its science to deliver the latest advances in sports nutrition to London 2012 athletes. As innovation partner of the Dutch Olympic Committee, DSM uses its knowledge of health, nutrition and materials to help improve the performance of the athletes. In partnership with the Dutch Olympic Committee, DSM is studying optimal levels of vitamin D for performance sportsmen and women. And beach volleyball players Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig from Germany will be using DSM’s innovative carotenoid supplements, FloraGLO Lutein and OPTISHARP Zeaxanthin to boost their visual performance. Different teams will be given vitamin D and German beach volleyball players Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig from Germany will be given lutein and zeaxanthin supplements to improve eyesight. Maurits Hendriks, Chef de Mission of the Olympic Team Netherlands said: “Good nutrition is essential for the fitness of our athletes at the starting line, and can actually help make the difference between victory or defeat on the day.” Even top athletes often underestimate the importance of proper nutrition. Over the years, a great deal of knowledge has been gained on the effects of specific nutrition regimens. Rob van Leen, DSM chief innovation officer noted: “As we share in the excitement and build up to the Olympics, we are inspired by working with athletes and teams, to take nutrition innovation to the next level.” Maurits Hendriks, Chef de Mission of the Olympic Team Netherlands commented: “Good nutrition is essential for the fitness of our athletes at the starting line, and can actually help make the difference between victory or defeat on the day. And yet even at the Olympic level, we see that there is still room for optimizing athletes’ diets. In our approach, a perfect diet is part of the integral training program. That is why the Dutch Olympic team is pleased to work in partnership with DSM to help our athletes to achieve their best possible performance.” The Dutch company recently opened a new office in Kenya to work on food fortification activities DSM is working together with the Dutch Olympic Committee, to undertake a study into optimal levels of vitamin D for performance sportsmen and women. Vitamin D delivers vital benefits to bone health, as well as improves muscle strength. It is produced in the skin when exposed to sunlight, but even athletes training outdoors can still face deficiencies. Vitamin D can also be found in the diet through foods such as oily fish and eggs, but athletes would need to consume several dozens of eggs per day to achieve optimal amounts. Rob van Leen, Chief Innovation Officer at DSM noted: “At DSM, we aim to provide nutrition solutions that are game-changing and life changing for people all over the world. As we share in the excitement and build up to the Olympics, we are inspired by working with athletes and teams, to take nutrition innovation to the next level.” Olympic nutrition 62 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings DSM helps Dutch athletes go for Olympic gold Besides supporting the Dutch Olympic Committee with a comprehensive innovation program, DSM also supports a number of individual athletes. German beach volleyball medal hopefuls, Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig, for example, will be using DSM’s carotenoid supplements to boost their visual performance. Being exposed to the bright sun or stadium lights whilst playing beach volleyball can temporarily impair vision, which will have a significant impact on their game. The carotenoid supplements provided by DSM act as a pair of ‘internal sunglasses’ to protect the eyes, and reduce the impact of strong light. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are found in the diet through vegetables such as spinach and bell peppers, and naturally accumulate in the retina. The yellow filter formed by lutein and zeaxanthin blocks out blue light and haze from strong light, but it’s difficult for performance athletes to achieve optimal levels through diet alone. DSM’s innovative supplements such as FloraGLO and OPTISHARP are used to help the eyes become naturally more ‘glare-resistant’, which may benefit the split-second, hand-eye coordination needed in performance sports such as volleyball.Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig commented: “Since taking the new DSM supplements, we are more confident about the visual performance of our eyes. This is very important in a sport like ours where you’re playing in very bright sunlight much of the time.”FloraGLO and OPTISHARP can also benefit other sports disciplines in which visual performance is key and where the athletes experience similar conditions of glare and exposure to bright sunlight. For that reason, several other athletes have also included these products in their daily diet, including a number of Dutch Olympic sailors. Food Product Design 25 July 2012 DSM Nutritional Products partnered with the Dutch Olympic Committee to study how vitamin D and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin affect the performance of top-tier athletes. Vitamin D delivers vital benefits to bone health and improves muscle strength. It is produced in the skin when exposed to sunlight, but even athletes training outdoors can still face deficiencies. Vitamin D can also be found in the diet through foods, such as oily fish and eggs, but athletes often do not consume enough to achieve optimum levels. The company also is working with individual athletes, including beach volleyball players Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig, to help boost their visual performance with lutein and zeaxanthin, which are found naturally in kale, spinach, broccoli and corn. The women will use DSM’s carotenoid supplements to act as a pair of “internal sunglasses” to protect their eyes and reduce the impact of strong outdoor sunlight and glare. http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2012/07/dsm-helpsdutch-athletes-go-for-olympic-gold.aspx This is just one of the ways in which DSM uses its scientific knowledge in health, nutrition, and materials to help top athletes to raise the bar and improve their chances of winning that all-important 2012 medal. Since 2001, DSM has worked with the top-level sports community on a range of innovations from sailing, to cooling, and nutritional ingredients for faster recovery which have contributed to sporting success. In the runup to the Olympic Games in London 2012, rowing and cycling have spearheaded in this innovation program. In cooperation with the Dutch Rowing Federation, DSM has developed new boats for the Olympic rowing fleet, and together with the Cycling Union, DSM has presented the Olympic cycling outfit. http://www.nutritionhorizon.com/news/DSM-and-DutchOlympic-Committee-Partner-on-Optimum-Sports-Nutrition.html 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 63 Olympic nutrition General vitamins 64 Dietary surveys indicate vitamin intakes below recommendations are common in representative Western countries Changing Lives with Vitamin Angels - Blog. Wholefoodsmarket.com 21 July 2012 British Journal of Nutrition In the second part of our interview with founder Howard Schiffer, listen in to learn about the Vitamin Angels programs having the most impact on malnourished children and discover simple ways to support their profound efforts. Howard Schiffer is the founder of Vitamin Angels and the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his accomplishments for helping to reduce child mortality by providing essential nutrients to at-risk children around the world. 13 June 2012 Abstract Vitamins play a crucial role in health, but modern lifestyles may lead to suboptimal intakes even in affluent countries. The aim of the present study is to review vitamin intakes in Germany, the UK, The Netherlands and the USA and to compare them with respective national recommendations. Data on adults from the most recently published national dietary intake surveys for the first three countries and data for adults from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2008 for the USA were used as a basis for the analysis. The proportions of the populations with intakes below recommendations were categorised as < 5, 5-25, >25-50, >50-75 and >75 % for each vitamin. Vitamin Angels has two programs that help improve children’s lives every day: Thrive to Five is a domestic and international program to get children’s multivitamins to children under 5, and prenatal vitamins to pregnant women as early in their pregnancy as possible. Operation 20/20 focuses on getting vitamin A to children under 5 around the world in order to decrease the effects of vitamin A deficiency and improve their immune function and survival. The data generated are presented in a ‘traffic light display’, using colours from green to red to indicate degrees of sufficiency. The trends found were compared with the results from the European Nutrition and Health Report 2009, even though in that report, only information on mean intakes in the different countries was available. We showed that, although inter-country differences exist, intakes of several vitamins are below recommendations in a significant part of the population in all these countries. The most critical vitamin appears to be vitamin D and the least critical niacin. The variation between the countries is most probably due to differences in recommendations, levels of fortification and local dietary habits. We show that a gap exists between vitamin intakes and requirements for a significant proportion of the population, even though diverse foods are available. Ways to correct this gap need to be investigated. Twenty five cents is the cost to reach one child for one year with vitamin A, which can reduce their risk of mortality from all causes by 24%. Today, Vitamin Angels is on track to reach 25 million children in more than 40 countries this year. There are many ways to get involved with the Vitamin Angels cause: One of the easiest ways to support Vitamin Angels is by choosing supplements that have the Vitamin Angels logo on them. These companies donate a percentage of sales or provide nutrients for the programs. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage =online&aid=8668978 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Whole Body team members are trained and available to answer any shopper questions about Vitamin Angels programs. 65 General vitamins DSM research reveals ‘inadequate’ vitamin intake in Europe and USA “Vitamins play a vital role in the diet, delivering long term benefits to health, and yet this research highlights that 100 years after their discovery there are still major gaps that urgently need closing - to improve people’s long term health and to drive down healthcare costs,” said Eggersdorfer. Study details Nutra-Ingridients 21 June 2012 Writing in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers from DSM reveal that despite the wide range of foods available, many developed countries – including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA – suffer from ‘widespread’ vitamin inadequacies in the population. The analysis reveals that three quarters of the population in Germany, the UK, and the USA, do not meet the dietary intake recommendations of the respective countries for a number of essential micronutrients. Speaking with NutraIngredients, Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior vice-president for nutrition and science advocacy at DSM revealed that the research is built on publically available data, which was then analysed and visualised using a traffic light scoring system. The study used a traffic light system to indicate vitamin status. They assigned a red light to cases where more than 75% of the population has an intake status lower than the nationally recommended level, a yellow light. Red lights were presented for vitamin D status in Germany, the UK and the USA – whilst vitamin E was also shown to have a red light in the UK and the USA. Vitamin B9 (folate) received a red light ‘warning’ in Germany, along with vitamin A in the USA “I think that for the first time there is now comparative data which can differentiate between vitamin status in different countries in a visual way,” said Eggersdorfer - who said he believes the traffic light system is an ‘excellent tool’ for visualising and communicating the sometimes stark differences between what is recommended for intake and what is actually achieved. Of the countries monitored, the Netherlands was found to have the fewest red lights. The DSM expert said the results show the need for a “call to action” on the topic of vitamin intakes, arguing that government bodies and policy makers need to help the public realise the right balance when it comes to dietary intake, fortification, and supplementation. “What we see in these countries is not a deficiency, however there is an inadequate intake when compared to the recommended daily levels,” said Eggersdorfer – noting that such information needed to be effectively communicated to both consumers and policy makers. We want scientists to engage with regulatory bodies and policy makers so that we can try to get the best recommendations for intakes.” “We know inadequate intake of vitamins does have an effect on long-term health, especially in terms of nutrition related diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.” Vitamin intake In 1912, Polish biochemist Casimir Funk coined the term ‘vitamine’ to define vital organic compounds that helped to prevent conditions such as beriberi and scurvy – and with it modern micronutrient science was born. Since then, researchers have identified and characterized a wide range of vitamins – 13 in total – with a range of functions at both a molecular and a cellular level, all playing an important role in human health. General vitamins “Sufficient intake will support lowering the risk of these noncommunicable diseases and aid healthy aging.” 66 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Dietary vitamin intakes using “traffic lights” suggest widespread inadequacies in Europe, US Asia Food Journal 26 June 2012 A new assessment published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that 75% of the population in Germany, the UK, and the US, does not meet the dietary intake recommendations of the respective countries for a number of essential micronutrients. A new assessment published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that 75% of the population in Germany, the UK, and the US, does not meet the dietary intake recommendations of the respective countries for a number of essential micronutrients. Based on large-scale population-based national dietary intake surveys, scientists at DSM evaluated data using a traffic light system to measure actual intakes against national recommendations in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the US. A red light was assigned where more than 75% of the population has an intake status lower than the nationally recommended level. The results show that in Germany, the UK and the USA, Vitamin D has a red light status, indicating that at least 75% of the population have poor vitamin D intake and are not meeting recommended intakes. Vitamin D is vital to bone health and muscle strength while it can reduce the risk of falls and fractures linked to osteoporosis by 20%. It is also essential for children in the prevention of rickets. Vitamin E was also branded with a red light in the UK and US, indicating that more can be done in these countries to raise intake levels to those recommended by national public health experts. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 67 General vitamins Vitamin-D-Mangel: Risiko für Senioren ab 60 Vitamin B9 (folate), which is especially important for pregnant women, was given a red light in Germany; Vitamin A also received a red light in the US. Mercure Magazine 11 July 2012 Of the countries monitored, the Netherlands fared best, with fewer red lights than Germany, the UK and the US.The variation between countries is most likely due to differences in recommendations, levels of fortification, and local dietary habits. Zürich - Vitamin-D ist wichtig für Knochen und das Immunsystem. Neue Studie zeigen jetzt, dass vor allem ältere Menschen einem Mangel vorbeugen sollten. Senioren ab 60 sollten Vitamin-D-Mangel vorbeugen. Die Fähigkeit der Haut zur Vitamin-D-Bildung nimmt im Alter ab. “Vitamins play a vital role in the diet, delivering long term benefits to health, and yet this research highlights that 100 yrs after their discovery there are still major gaps that urgently need closing – to improve people’s long term health and to drive down healthcare costs,” says Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior VP for Nutrition and Science Advocacy. Vitamin-D ist wichtig für die Regulierung des Calcium-Spiegels im Blut und beim Knochenaufbau. Kinder mit Vitamin-DMangel erkranken an Rachitis. Bei Erwachsenen begünstigt ein Vitamin D-Mangel einem Knochenabbau und erhöht das Knochenbruchrisiko. Außerdem sind Muskelschwäche und -schmerzen sowie ein erhöhtes Sturzrisiko Folgen des VitaminD-Mangels. Auch sind in der Wissenschaft negative Folgen für das Immunsystem, die Entwicklung von Herz-Kreislauf- und Krebserkrankungen beschrieben worden. http://www.asiafoodjournal.com/article/dietary-vitaminintakes-using-traffic-lights-suggest-widespread-inadequaciesin-europe-us/8269 Prof. Dr. med. Heike Annette Bischoff-Ferrari vom Zentrum Alter und Mobilität der Universität Zürich und Stadtspital Waid hat nun in einer Studie herausgefunden, dass ältere Patienten, die regelmäßig Vitamin-D einnehmen, sicherer gehen, seltener stürzen und weniger Knochenbrüche erleiden. Die Einnahme von Vitamin-D ist demnach eine günstige und effektive Maßnahme, um die Gesundheit im Alter zu erhalten. Auch die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE) empfiehlt daher seit kurzem die Einnahme von Vitamin-D. Vitamin-D wird zu rund 80 Prozent in der Haut mit Hilfe der UV-B Strahlung des Sonnenlichtes gebildet und zu rund 20 Prozent über Lebensmittel aufgenommen. Allerdings ist die Sonne keine verlässlich Quelle: in den Monaten November bis Mai reicht in ganz Europa die Sonnenintensität nicht aus. „Die Fähigkeit der Haut zur Vitamin-D-Bildung nimmt im Alter gegenüber einem 20-Jährigen um den Faktor vier ab“, sagt Prof. Dr. med. Ralf-Joachim Schulz Präsident der DGG. Sonnenschutz durch Kleidung oder Sonnencreme (ab Faktor 6) reduziert die hauteigene VitaminD-Produktion zudem deutlich. Außerdem enthalten nur wenige Lebensmittel Vitamin-D in größeren Mengen, dazu gehören General vitamins 68 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamins and dietary supplements too much of a good thing? The Science would suggest not… fettreiche Fische, zum Beispiel Aale, und in deutlich geringerem Maße Margarine, einige Pilze und Eigelb. Das Vitamin wird nach der Aufnahme über Nahrungsmittel oder die Bildung in der Haut zunächst in der Leber und danach in der Niere in die aktive Form umgewandelt. Nutra-Ingridients 3 August 2012 Earlier this week we ran a story based on a Euromonitor blog that asked some questions of the efficacy, safety and marketing of food supplements. Here Alan Ruth, PhD, CEO of the Irish Health Trade Association responds... On 17 July 2012, Euromonitor International published a blog by consumer health analyst Stephanie Prymas titled:’ Vitamins and Dietary Supplements: Too Much of a Good Thing?’. The blog states: “Unfortunately, there is a growing body of evidence showing that overdoing it on certain nutrients can indeed be harmful.” http://www.merkur-online.de/gesundheit/allgemein/vitamin-dmangel-vorbeugensenioren-2387002.html The seven statements and the studies they refer to, provide very weak support for the statement regarding growing evidence showing that overdoing it on certain nutrients can be harmful. The findings of two of the studies cannot be extrapolated to Europe. The other studies have been criticised by experts because of their methodological limitations and because they citerelative risk figures which do not reflect actual risks. Below, I respond to each of Stephanie’s seven statements. Statement (1): “A study in the November 2011 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which surveyed nearly 9,000 US adults, found that supplement users consume more minerals from their diets than non-users, increasing the risk of conditions such as kidney stones, which are associated with high calcium consumption.” It is important to highlight the fact that this statement relates to an analysis of data from theNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006 in the United States.NHANES is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. Its findings and conclusions cannot be extrapolated to other national populations. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that the use of dietary supplements is very high in the United States compared to other countries. The actual conclusions cited in the abstract of the November 2011 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition analysis were: “Individuals who used mineral-containing dietary supplements had higher mineral intakes from food sources in the diet than did nonusers. For all minerals examined, and particularly for calcium and 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 69 General vitamins Statement (4): “Researchers at Johns Hopkins University analysed data from more than 15,000 adults and found that vitamin D supplementation decreased blood levels of C-reactive protein, or CRP, an indicator of inflammation linked to cardiovascular disease. After a certain level, however, additional vitamin D actually increased CRP levels. Most troublingly, this threshold was at the lower end of the “normal” range for vitamin D.” magnesium in men and women and iron in women, supplement use decreased the prevalence of intake inadequacy for each respective mineral.” Statement (2): “Researchers followed almost 24,000 subjects in Germany for 10 years and discovered that those taking calcium supplements were 86% more likely to have a heart attack during the study. While this relationship was not causal, the association was strong enough to prompt the authors to suggest that dietary consumption may be a preferable calcium source.” The Vitamin D Council said of this study: “You can’t draw any conclusions about CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk because this was a correlation of two serum levels between two unmatched groups. It was not an intervention study, and it did not measure CVD.” Dr William Ware, Editor of International Health News has noted that this study received considerable media attention because it suggested an 86% increase in the risk of having a heart attack for users of calcium supplements. Statement (5): “Dutch researchers examined over 245,000 people and found both low and very high levels of vitamin D were linked to a greater risk of death.” However, from looking at the data in the tables of the study write-up and focusing on myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), he notes that over 11 years, 1.6% of non-takers of any supplement had heart attacks. 2.73% of those who took only calcium had heart attacks and 1.87% of those who took calcium plus another supplement had heart attacks. Firstly, this study was not carried out by Dutch researchers! The research was from the University of Copenhagen and was based on blood samples from 247,574 Copenhageners. Commenting on the finding of the study on the Vitamin D Council website, Dr William Grant stated: “This finding flies in the face of numerous studies reporting benefits of higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations for the diseases contributing the most to mortality rates in Europe and the United States.” Dr Ware notes that the 86% relative risk increase for calcium alone became a non-significant 20% when the statistical analysis involved confounders and in addition, took into account cumulative supplementation. The International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) highlighted a large number of limitations of the observational study including that it was not designed to measure CVD (cardiovascular disease) events as the primary outcome; didn’t exclude those with high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure; and contained inaccurate calcium intake data. Statement (6): “A study of more than 35,000 men in the October 2011 Journal of the American Medical Association found that those taking vitamin E had a 17% higher risk of developing prostate cancer versus those receiving a placebo.” This study reported that those taking vitamin E had a 17% higher risk of developing prostate cancer versus those receiving a placebo. This was a relative risk. Relative risk means the probability of developing a disease relative to an exposure, while absolute risk represents the probability that a specific event will occur in a specific population, in a specific time frame. Statement (3): “Patients with excess levels of vitamin D have a 2.5 times greater risk of developing atrial fibrillation…” The research cited resulted in an article titled “Industry hits back at ‘nonsense’ vitamin D heart study” which appeared on the NutraIngredients website on 18 November 2011. The article cited a statement by supplier DSM which was headlined ‘Conversion Errors and Vitamin D Nonsense’. According to the article, DSM stated that the unpublished research was flawed in its measurement methodology and would struggle to pass peer review. General vitamins Statement (7): “According to a study in The Lancet in February 2012, selenium supplements, which may prevent some cancers and delay cognitive decline, may also increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes when taken at higher doses.” 70 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Study highlights low dietary vitamin intakes The main conclusion of this review of the evidence was that although additional selenium might benefit people who are lacking in this essential micronutrient, for those who already have enough selenium in their diet (including a large proportion of the USA population), taking selenium supplements could be harmful, and might increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Food and Beverage Reporter August 2012 A new assessment published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that 75% of the population in Germany, the UK and the US, does not meet the dietary intake recommendations of the respective countries for a number of essential micronutrients. Based on largescale population-based national dietary intake surveys, scientists at DSM evaluated data using a traffic light system to measure actual intakes against national recommendations in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands and the US. However, it should also be noted that the intake of selenium varies hugely worldwide. Whilst intakes are high in the USA, Canada and Japan, they are lower in Europe. The Review found that studies in different populations with different selenium status and genetic background have produced divergent results. Scientists assigned a red light where more than 75% of the population has an intake status lower than the nationally recommended level. This was the case with vitamin D intake in Germany, the UK and the US; vitamin Ein the UK and US; vitamin B9 (folate) in Germany; and vitamin A in the US. Of the countries monitored, The Netherlands fared best, with fewer red lights than Germany, the UK and the US. The scientists say that the variation between countries is most likely due to differences in recommendations; levels of fortification; and changing lifestyles as well as local dietary habits which have shifted towards fast or convenience foods with a lower density of vitamins and minerals. Commenting on this traffic light display, Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, DSM senior vice-preSident for Nutrition and Science Advocacy, said: “Vitamins playa vital role in the diet, delivering long term benefits to health, and yet this research highlights that 100 years after their discovery there are still major gaps that urgently need closing -to improve people’s long term health and to drive down healthcare costs.” http://www.nutraingredients.com/Industry/Vitamins-anddietary-supplements-Too-much-of-a-good-thing-The-sciencewould-suggest-not “We know inadequate intake of vitamins has an effect on long term health, especially in terms of nutrition-related diseases, such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sufficient intake will support lowering the risk of these noncommunicable diseases and aid healthy ageing.” 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 71 General vitamins Vitamins you need at every age We average less than 1 serving of whole grains a day, which means important vitamins, like vitamin B6, might be low. Marginal deficiency symptoms are subtle. For example, low vitamin B12 leads to memory loss, poor intake of vitamin D over the years leads to osteoporosis and possibly cancer, MS, seasonal affective disorder, and more. Low intake of folic acid, another B vitamin, can contribute to cancer, as well as memory problems and birth defects. KATU-TV 20 August 2012 Elizabeth Somer, Registered Dietician and author of Eat Your Way to Sexy, joined us today to discuss vitamins and answer all those questions we have about them. The video clip can be viewed here. http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/VitaminsYou-Need-At-Every-Age-166567546.html 4. Are their certain vitamins that are particularly important depending on your age? 1. We’ve only know about vitamins for 100 years, really? While we all need the 13 vitamins some vitamins seem to be more important depending on a person’s age. For example, folic acid is important for women in their 20s. This B vitamin works its magic in the first weeks after conception, helping cells to divide properly and preventing birth defects. On the other hand, the antioxidant vitamins, including C and E are important in the 30s because this is a time when people’s lives are so busy it is common for them not to get enough fruits and vegetables. Vitamins D and B12 are important by the 40s and beyond because absorption levels begin to drop as we age. That’s right. Before 1912, the only nutrients known in foods were carbs, protein, and fat. 2. You don’t hear about scurvy or beri beri anymore, but you say we still need to be concerned about our vitamin intakes. Why? Many Americans are marginally deficient in one or more vitamins. That means they consume enough to prevent the classic deficiency, but not enough to be optimally nourished. Marginal deficiencies smolder under the surface and result in compromised health in a subtle way today and serious conditions later in life. Osteoporosis is a good example. Get some, but not enough vitamin D and over the course of a lifetime, your bones slowly lose calcium until they no longer can support your weight. 5. So, what do we do to prevent these marginal deficiencies and make sure we get all the vitamins we need? First and foremost, eat right! Include at least 6, preferably 9, servings of colorful fruits and veggies in the daily diet, 5 servings of whole grains, 3 servings of vitamin D-rich nonfat milk products, and a few nutrient-packed servings of legumes or extra-lean meat, chicken, or fish. But we also know that people who take supplements are better nourished than people who don’t. 3. How do you know if you aren’t getting enough? The irony here is that if you ask people how they think they are doing diet-wise, most people will tell you they know they don’t eat perfectly, but feel they do OK. Most are delusional 99 out of 100 people don’t meet even minimum standards of a balanced diet, according to FDA data, yet 9 out of 10 think they are doing pretty well To learn more information, just visit Elizabeth’s website at http://www.elizabethsomer.com The average American eats less than three servings of fruit and vegetables daily (women do slightly better than men in this category), which means their intakes of vitamins like vitamin C, E, K, and A are probably marginal. General vitamins 72 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamins women need most SheKnows: Are supplements necessary for women? SheKnows Elizabeth Somer: Anyone worth their weight in nutrition credentials will tell you to go to food first. However, the reality is that 99 out of 100 Americans don’t meet even minimum standards of a balanced diet, FDA data says, let alone optimal. Everyone would benefit from a moderate-dose multi-vitamin and -mineral supplement to fill in the gaps on days when you don’t eat perfectly. Vitamin D is needed in extra amounts often not obtained from diet plus a multi alone. After that, some people at certain ages may benefit from extra amounts of certain vitamins. For example, people don’t absorb vitamin B12 as well as they age or if they are on acid-blocking medications, so this vitamin may be needed in extra amounts for those people. 4 September 2012 Differences between the sexes go much deeper than how a woman or man does laundry, socializes with friends or chooses a movie. They go as deep as the vitamins working in their bodies to keep tissues healthy and strong. All bodies need the right mix of the 13 essential vitamins, but some are more important than others when it comes to the sexes. Dietitian and author of Eat Your Way to Sexy Elizabeth Somer has tips on what vitamins we need most and why. SheKnows: What vitamins do women need that aren’t so important for men? SheKnows: Why all the press about D, the sunshine vitamin, for health, mood and energy? Elizabeth Somer: All vitamins are essential, meaning our bodies can’t make them, so they must be obtained from the diet. That said, some vitamins are of particular importance for women -- for example, folic acid, the B vitamin essential to prevent birth defects like spina bifida. Women need at least 400 mcg a day, but often don’t get enough. By the time the pregnancy test comes back positive and they ponder taking a supplement, it could be too late. Since one in two pregnancies are unplanned, according to the March of Dimes, it is essential that all women who are sexually active take a multi that contains folic acid. Elizabeth Somer: Vitamin E was all over the research and press a few years ago because of its antioxidant capabilities, now vitamin D is coming into the limelight. That’s because for years we thought vitamin D was only important for bone development and maintenance. Once researchers recognized that every cell in the body has receptor sites for vitamin D, it became clear this vitamin was important for much more. I’ve not heard about “energy” but there is an accumulation of research showing links with vitamin D, mood, seasonal affective disorder, multiple sclerosis, certain cancers and muscle strength. How much liver do you eat? Eat unprocessed foods 75 percent of the time SheKnows: Is folic acid difficult to get from food sources? SheKnows: Is our growing consumption of processed foods one of the problems in the fight to nourish our bodies properly? Elizabeth Somer: Folate in food is not as well absorbed as folic acid in supplements. Also, the main dietary sources of folate are dark green leafy vegetables, legumes and liver. Since most women do not get at least two servings of dark greens a day, seldom eat legumes and almost never eat liver, it is common for many women to be low in this vitamin. Elizabeth Somer: Yes! Our bodies evolved over millions of years designed to eat real food that could be hunted or gathered. Those foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, fiber, protein and other essential nutrients. Man has never bettered Mother Nature. The more processed a food, the lower its content of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber, and the higher its calories, fat, sugar and/or salt. The fix? Eat “real” unprocessed foods at least 75 percent of the time ... and supplement responsibly. SheKnows: On the other side, what vitamins do men need that aren’t of as much concern to women? Elizabeth Somer: Almost everyone is lacking in colorful fruits and vegetables, but men do worse than women, which means their diets are often low in vitamins C, E, A and K. A whole-food diet and supplements for your body’s best health 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/ articles/970017/vitamins-and-nutrients-women-need-most 73 General vitamins Nutraceuticals what can be achieved today Nutraceuticals Now Breaking Down Silos: Integrating Nutrition For Impact 27 September 2012 Global Health and Diplomacy Fall 2012 http://www.aspectconsulting.eu/en/?LinkServID=0E04BC15FF82-E7B2-A5983245967B439E The spotlight, as we head towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) deadline, has been firmly placed on the first 1,000 days of life, which is the critical window of opportunity between pregnancy and age two. Even by today’s standards, most of the attention is directed toward treatment rather than prevention of disease, and the importance of nutrition as a cornerstone for health and wealth is not sufficiently highlighted. How can this narrow approach successfully address the pressing problem of child development, illness and death? How much more could we accomplish if we could move away from operating in silos? When I think of silos, I envision the highest elevations in the corn plains of Iowa. Remarkably, silos rarely exist alone. They commonly occur at least in pairs or else several in a row and, interestingly, they are almost all connected in some way. Silos are hugely important because they are reservoirs for storing significant produce, grains, or other crops, which are Vital sources of life for many. Yet, when we use the term ‘silo’ in today’s world, it generally has a negative connotation. In the last few years, there has been much talk in the public health nutrition space about the need to address the “silo effect”, to “break down silos”, to end the “silo mentality” and to stop “working in silos”, however, it seems that this is much harder to do than to talk about. To become fully effective, many sectors must engage to address the challenges of malnutrition (in its broadest sense), and no longer function in isolation, with an inward focus and vertical information and communication. While there is clear consensus across the technical community that we must prioritize both reduction of child stunting [chronic malnutrition] and addressing non-communicable diseases[NCDs], our continued siloed efforts are keeping us from achieving what needs to be done. Silos don’t just appear spontaneously. In his book, Break Out of the Silo Mentality, Jeffrey Cufaude writes, “They’re created by a mix of mindset, culture, and process factors that many associations share. The good news: If you can correct those factors, you can eliminate silos and keep them from coming back.” General vitamins 74 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings The challenge of behavior change pushing ourselves to shift away from the “silo effect” that we are better at acknowledging than addressing. There is a pervasive tendency to view conflict as a negative experience that is to be avoided at all costs. Behavior change is the hardest of all challenges and it requires the smartest interventions. So, often, we lament that behavior change is what makes our work so difficult. How do we get mothers to move back to breastfeeding? How do we get people to abandon their sedentary lifestyles and become more active? How do we mobilize communities to demand nutritious foods? Now, we have to apply such questioning to ourselves! We all need to consider the patterns of behavior and, even deeper, the structures, subconscious beliefs and mental models that may be helping to perpetuate the continued existence of our silos. Fortunately, the silos are beginning to break down (we are, in a sense, seeing our own Behavior change!). In the landmark 2008 Lancet Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition, one of the papers in the series, “Effective international action against undernutrition: why has it proven so difficult and what can be done to accelerate progress?”, highlighted the fractured nature of the global nutrition community. In the nearly five years since the paper was published, significant progress has been made both in building technical and policy consensus on issues related to addressing malnutrition, but also in terms of more effective coordination across sectors. The very definition of which occurs when, conflict—as something due to a disagreement, people (or other parties) perceive a threat to their interests— is enough to make one fearful. Yet, conflict can be viewed as a way of generating thinking, for thinking opens the door to innovative solutions. I, personally, prefer to view conflict as a challenge and catalyst for positive change. We Should actively seek out people with different backgrounds, different ways of thinking, different experiences and different disciplines, and find ways to engage with them with a view to addressing the challenge. Real change comes when we are more afraid of the silence than we are of facing the conflict. It’s time we stopped talking about the breaking down of silos and the need for dialogue, and started having the courage to collaborate, as different but equally necessary stakeholders, amid the conflict we face. Of course, if it were that easy, it would have been done already. But as long as we consistently use our best and most innovative thinking and work together in transformative partnerships, there is no limit to the impact we can achieve. Ultimately, we owe it to the millions of children worldwide who deserve the opportunity to have the very best start in life, through proper nutrition. We should not settle for anything less. Moreover, in just the past two years, we have seen a global movement to catalyze action on an unprecedented Scale. Led by nearly 30 developing countries that have committed to improving nutrition, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement is an effort backed by more than 100 entities, including civil society organizations, businesses, governments, UN agencies, and academia dedicated to improving maternal and child nutrition. SUN is committed to aligning resources, expertise, and investment to support the nutrition priorities established by the lead countries. Why Investing In Nutrition is Important: Copenhagan Consensus 2012 • The Copenhagen Consensus 2012 put fighting chronic undernutrition in preschoolers, through bundled micronutrient interventions, as the top priority for policymakers and philanthropists. • Research shows that even in very poor countries and using very conservative assumptions, each dollar spent reducing chronic undernutrition has at least a $30 payoff. • The International Food Policy Research Institute shows that for just $100 per child, interventions including micronutrient provision, complementary foods, treatments for worms and diarrheal diseases, and behavior change programs, could reduce chronic under-nutrition by 36 percent in developing countries. This is a cross-sector effort built on the skills and experience of the many organizations supporting the movement. Whether it is in direct nutrition action, such as ensuring access to micronutrient-rich complementary food or in changing the factors that impact nutrition such as providing training on farming practices that can increase crop yield or supporting strong nutrition policies, all stakeholders have a role to play. Collaborating in conflict For more information visit http://www.copenhagenconsensus. com/Projects/CC12.aspx While progress has been made, we must step up our efforts to coordinate for maximum impact. We must continue to seek new pathways for engagement and coordination—and keep 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 75 General vitamins Americans and Europeans Don’t Get Enough Vitamins protein diet for two years. The researchers, who are from the Indiana University School of Medicine, found that the study subjects suffered no harmful effects on variables of kidney disease — including fluid and electrolyte balance; GFR (glomerular filtration rate); and albuminuria — compared with a low-fat diet. This is consistent with other research on highprotein lifestyles. Muscle & Body 1 October 2012 Vitamin inadequacies are rampant in Europe and the United States, according to statistics compiled by the European science-and-research company DSM. The company found that three-quarters of the population in Germany, the United Kingdom and the U.S. do not meet the dietary intake recommendations established by each country for several key micronutrients. Tip: The scientists plan on performing more studies, but lowcarb, high-protein diets have not been found to produce any harmful health effects in normal subjects. M&B recommends that athletes should ingest 1-2 g of protein per pound of body weight per day. DSM says the data indicates the need for a “call to action” for those in the developed world to address their lack of vitamin intake. In a statement made to nutraingredients.com, Manfred Eggersdorfer, PhD, senior vice-president for nutrition and science advocacy at DSM, said: “We know inadequate intake of vitamins does have an effect on long-term health, especially in terms of nutrition-related diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sufficient intake will support lowering the risk of these noncommunicable diseases and aid healthy aging.” [Fat-Loss Tip] Cut Food To Get Cut College students who ate their food in small pieces ate less than those who had the same amount of food served to them but in much larger pieces. The findings come from the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (sounds like a fun group). Researchers believe that perceptions of satiety are increased by the more pieces you eat, no matter their size. Creatine Fights Depression An international team of researchers found that women who suffer from major depression doubled their rate of remission and speed of recovery by taking 5 g of creatine along with their daily antidepressant. The research, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, discovered that those taking SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) medications (e.g., paxil, prozac, etc.) for depression improved on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) at two weeks (32%) and four weeks (68%) compared to those in the placebo group, who improved at 3.7% and 29%, respectively. No adverse side effects were reported in the creatine group. In research published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, experts found that adolescents who had higher blood levels of micronutrients, particularly iron and vitamins, were associated with health and physical fitness. For muscular fitness, betacarotene and vitamin D were especially important. Also, a study in Nutritional Neuroscience found that those serving in the U.S. military were at a higher risk of reduced cognitive function if their omega-3 levels were low. Said the researchers: “On the basis of our findings and other research, educating service members to choose foods high in omega3s and raising the EPA and DHA levels in rations should be considered for general health promotion and possible performance optimization.” Said lead researcher Perry F. Renshaw, MD, “Getting people to feel better faster is the Holy Grail of treating depression.” Tip: Micronutrient intake is important on many levels. As Eggerdorfer stresses, health-care costs are just one of the issues affected by poor health due to lack of vitamins. Tip: If you or a loved one suffers from depression, ask the attending health-care practitioner about adding creatine to your nutritional regimen. Low-Carb, High-Protein Diets Do Not Damage Kidneys http://www.muscleandbodymag.com/news-and-research/ americans-and-europeans-dont-get-enough-vitamins/ That’s the conclusion of a report in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, which followed a group of healthy, obese subjects who ate a low-carbohydrate, highGeneral vitamins 76 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings What Should a World of Nine Billion People Look Like? Feeding the planet has to be at the top of the priority list; so we need, for example, to design foods where both the caloric and the nutritional content is optimised and the bio-availability of nutrients is as high as possible. In other words, we take as much of the vitamins, micro-nutrients and other ingredients as we can from every mouthful we eat. The same kind of zeal for efficiency has to apply to energy, use of raw materials or water, and so on. Agriculture will once again become the central activity for the production of food, energy and materials. We need an agricultural revolution if we are to ensure enough sustainable biomass is available and we must maximize the true potential of plant matter. Thankfully, this process is already underway. The Huffington Post 15 October 2012 This week we celebrate World Food Day. This is an opportune moment to address the question - what should a world of 9 billion people look like? This is the single most important question that we face today. If we address it in the right way, we can overcome the massive challenges facing the global population and create a genuinely sustainable future. According to the UN and other population experts, the number of people in the world is expected to reach roughly 9 billion by the year 2050. This means that every month, an extra 6.5 million people are putting ever more demand on the planet’s resources to meet their health, food and material needs. Under the assumption that the demographic decline is now spreading from the established to the emerging economies, the United Nations Population Fund estimates that the planet’s population may peak in the late 21st century rather than continue to grow indefinitely or until it has exhausted available resources. If this theory is correct, it leads to a clear conclusion: we need to start constructing a world that works with 9 billion people on it, especially since up to five billion of our fellow Earth-dwellers may be middle class (and therefore increasingly resource hungry). We need a new model, a new framework, a new approach, design it and take control. We are pioneering the development of advanced biofuels which allow us to generate truly renewable energy from the non edible parts of plants and agricultural residues, including the stalks, blank cobs, and leaves from corn. In addition to the sustainability benefits, this development, and the emerging bio based economy more broadly, will create jobs and transform rural economies. We must reduce waste to a minimum. In fact, we need to get to the point where there is no such thing as waste. Again, this means bio-refineries must use every single element of biomass - from starch and sugar to cellulose to lignin - in the most intelligent and sustainable ways possible to simultaneously meet our need for energy, materials, and food. The days of wasting food and casually burning our most precious resource must come to an end. Being flexible and very strategic in terms of how we manage our resources will become even more important. This means, for example, that although the era of abundant and cheap fossil resources is over, in certain situations it will still make most sense from a resource efficiency perspective to generate energy and manufacture using fossil fuels and traditional chemical routes. The emerging bio- economy will not, and should not, be a simple like-for-like replacement for the fossil based economy. In doing so, it is essential we recognise that if population growth underpins the great global challenges we face, then one key driver is fundamental to constructing a solution: “It’s the resources, stupid!” Therefore, if we are to feed, fuel, house, clothe, transport and provide a fulfilling future for 9 billion people, we need to do a number of things right: This means utilising the world’s resources like land, water, biomass, minerals, fossil energy, or renewables like sun or wind most efficiently. Everything we do must be as efficient as possible, maximising the beneficial impact of every type of resource, and in parallel we have to make a fundamental shift from finite and rapidly depleting reserves to renewable resources. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings This transformation will require an awful lot of innovation and an awful lot of science. Luckily, this we have. The capabilities in industry, but even more so among the partners in academia around the world with whom we cooperate is significant. Virtually every fossil-derived product could be manufactured from biomass, and we are certain we can meet these challenges by working closely together on this one big goal. Finally, business has an absolutely vital role to play in this transformation. 77 General vitamins Forgotten vitamin would help cut premature births ‘by 30% To do so individual companies need to recognise that sustainability is not a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘need to have’, and their growth prospects will be determined by their capacity to fully integrate sustainability into all of their activities. Food Manucfacture.co.uk 17 October 2012 Now, all this makes the challenge sound very easy. It is not. The changes required are monumental, and change is never easy. We firmly believe that we can successfully address these challenges. But to do so, resource use has to be absolutely central to our approach, and we have to work towards a shared vision of what a genuinely sustainable world of 9 billion will look like. The number of premature babies born in the UK could be reduced by as much as 30% if expectant mothers had adequate intakes of vitamin E. This is a particular issue in the UK, where 54,000 babies are born prematurely each year in England alone. Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, vice presiden as neural tube defects) by up to 70 per cent. The return on investment from micronutrient provision, including food fortification, is astounding. According to the 2012 Copenhagen Consensus panel of experts, every $1 spent providing essential micronutrients to pre-schoolers generates $30 in benefits. Just last month, the KNFFA launched the national fortification logo kuboresha afya (improving health), marking for Kenyan consumers the range of foods now fortified with vital micronutrients. Mineral deficiencies The logo complements new legislation requiring mandatory fortification of maize meal, wheat flour and vegetable oils in Kenya. In partnership with organisations including the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Population Services International (PSI) and with private sector partners like DSM, Kenya launched a five-year programme to reach 27 million people with fortified products. The effort, which supports Kenya’s Vision 2030 for development, aims to reduce widespread prevalence of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and mothers. Equipment and nutrient blends will be provided at a subsidised cost to industry along with training in quality assurance. In addition, the KNFFA is working to harness the expertise of this multi-stakeholder group, provide technical expertise to produce the fortified foods, monitor food quality, create demand and develop technical guidelines for fortification, to ensure long-term success and sustainability. This partnership is a testament to what can be achieved when General vitamins 78 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings the public and private sectors work together: Governments create a conducive environment for food fortification, businesses implement it, and together they communicate the products and benefits to consumers—and the entire country benefits from a healthier, more productive society. Scaling up nutrition with public and private partnerships If we are going to improve global health and development, we need to scale up nutrition. Proven, high-impact, low-cost interventions like food fortification exist. We need more publicprivate partnerships to implement these interventions. Kenya continues to shine in addressing malnutrition, a public health problem that also hinders economic development in many developing countries. This week, leaders, professionals, private sector representatives and other partners gathered in Nairobi for a high-level symposium on Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN). Africareview.com 9 November 2012 We need more countries like Kenya to join the SUN, to both share what they have learnt and to learn from other Movement members. Because we can do far more by working together than any one of us could do alone. SUN is a country-led Movement with more than 100 organisations working to increase the effectiveness of existing programmes by supporting national priorities, encouraging alignment of resources and fostering broad ownership and commitment to nutrition. Kenya is one of 31 countries to join the Movement to date. The SUN event comes on the heels of the launch of an exciting public-private partnership, expected to reach 27 million Kenyans with a range of foods fortified with essential vitamins and minerals (micronutrients). -Dr Klaus Kraemer is the Director of Sight and Life, a non-profit humanitarian nutrition think tank of DSM, which cares about the world’s most vulnerable populations and exists to help improve their nutritional status. -Gladys Mugambi is Kenya’s deputy head of the Division of Nutrition, Food Fortification Project Manager for the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, and Secretary of the Kenya National Food Fortification Alliance. Children who are well-nourished—especially in the 1,000 days between pregnancy and the second birthday—grow up to learn more, earn more and stay healthy. But those who are malnourished suffer irreversible and life-long damage, including stunted growth and impaired cognitive development. Based on this evidence, SUN partners focus on implementing solutions that improve nutrition, including support for breastfeeding and ensuring access to essential vitamins and minerals through supplementation, micronutrient powders and food fortification. Countries working to scale up nutrition have established targets tailored to address their own specific challenges and capitalise on their greatest opportunities for lasting impact. (Contact: info@100yearsofvitamins.com) http://www.africareview.com/Opinion/Scaling-up-nutritionwith-public-and-private-partnerships/-/979188/1615852//10uq8ecz/-/index.html SUN recognises the opportunities to improve health and development that result when government, civil society, industry and other partners commit to working together to scale up nutrition policies, programmes and investment. When the public and private sectors come together, they can forge particularly powerful partnerships with far-reaching impacts. In Kenya, 35 per cent of children under five are stunted and over 10 million people suffer from poor nutrition and chronic food insecurity. Lost productivity Micronutrient deficiencies are widespread, leading to health problems including blindness, lost productivity, pregnancy 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 79 General vitamins complications and increased risk of death from diseases like measles and diarrhoea. The effort, which supports Kenya’s Vision 2030 for development, aims to reduce widespread prevalence of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and mothers. Equipment and nutrient blends will be provided at a subsidised cost to industry along with training in quality assurance. The Government of Kenya has developed a comprehensive National Food Security and Nutrition Policy and Strategy that recognises the need for multi-public and private sector involvement in addressing malnutrition. They also have a long history of supporting food fortification. Salt iodisation (iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation) began on a voluntary basis in 1970 and became mandatory in 1992; it is now a well-established programme. In addition, the KNFFA is working to harness the expertise of this multi-stakeholder group, provide technical expertise to produce the fortified foods, monitor food quality, create demand and develop technical guidelines for fortification, to ensure long-term success and sustainability. In 2005, the Kenya National Food Fortification Alliance (KNFFA), a public-private partnership, was launched to develop additional fortification programmes, such as a 2007 project that made vitamin A-fortified cooking oil available to an estimated 3.6 million Kenyans. This partnership is a testament to what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together: Governments create a conducive environment for food fortification, businesses implement it, and together they communicate the products and benefits to consumers—and the entire country benefits from a healthier, more productive society. The fortification of common foods is a proven, cost-effective way to improve the health and productivity of whole populations. The fortification of commercially produced staple foods continuously delivers nutrients to large segments of the population, without requiring that they change their eating habits. If we are going to improve global health and development, we need to scale up nutrition. Proven, high-impact, low-cost interventions like food fortification exist. We need more publicprivate partnerships to implement these interventions. The impact is huge. Take the case of fortified flour, now required by 57 countries. Fortifying flour with folic acid has reduced cases of brain and spine birth defects (also known as neural tube defects) by up to 70 per cent. The return on investment from micronutrient provision, including food fortification, is astounding. According to the 2012 Copenhagen Consensus panel of experts, every $1 spent providing essential micronutrients to pre-schoolers generates $30 in benefits. We need more countries like Kenya to join the SUN, to both share what they have learnt and to learn from other Movement members. Because we can do far more by working together than any one of us could do alone. -Dr Klaus Kraemer is the Director of Sight and Life, a non-profit humanitarian nutrition think tank of DSM, which cares about the world’s most vulnerable populations and exists to help improve their nutritional status. -Gladys Mugambi is Kenya’s deputy head of the Division of Nutrition, Food Fortification Project Manager for the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, and Secretary of the Kenya National Food Fortification Alliance. Just last month, the KNFFA launched the national fortification logo kuboresha afya (improving health), marking for Kenyan consumers the range of foods now fortified with vital micronutrients. Mineral deficiencies (Contact: info@100yearsofvitamins.com) The logo complements new legislation requiring mandatory fortification of maize meal, wheat flour and vegetable oils in Kenya. In partnership with organisations including the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Population Services International (PSI) and with private sector partners like DSM, Kenya launched a five-year programme to reach 27 million people with fortified products. General vitamins http://www.africareview.com/Opinion/Scaling-up-nutritionwith-public-and-private-partnerships/-/979188/1615852//10uq8ecz/-/index.html 80 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Africa: Development Targets Ride on Vitamins value of foods that need to be consumed to maintain good health - most diets of children under-five only consist of corn or rice or wheat porridge.” allafrica.com 26 November 2012 Still, there are signs that the trend is changing, largely due to a renewed push by development practitioners around the world to tackle the problem. Brussels — One hundred and ninety million - that’s more than the populations of Germany, France and Poland combined. It is also the number of children affected by vitamin A deficiency around the world. An insufficient intake of this vital nutrient - found in foods like liver, carrots and kale - can be fatal and causes blindness in 250,000 to 500,000 children every year. The Copenhagen Consensus 2012 Expert Panel of top global economists assessed the most effective ways of allocating funds to address the world’s toughest challenges, and reported that “bundled micronutrient interventions” should be the top priority for investments in global health and development. One hundred years after Polish scientist Casimir Funk formulated the concept of vitamins, substantial progress has been made in promoting awareness that proper nutrition is vital to health. One of the participants, Nobel laureate economist Vernon Smith, explained, “One of the most compelling investments is to get nutrients to the world’s undernourished. The benefits from doing so - in terms of increased health, schooling, and productivity - are tremendous. Indeed, the estimate put forward by the Copenhagen Consensus is a 17-fold return on every dollar spent. Yet much remains to be done, especially in the developing world, to spread awareness that simply solving the problem of hunger does not necessarily tackle the question of nutrition. Currently, 7.3 percent of the global health burden is caused by vitamin and nutrient deficiency. Achieving the MDGs Poverty is the leading cause of many vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin A. Much of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is affected by severe cases of vitamin A deficiency - since many diets in this part of the world include only staples. For instance, rice can represent up to 70 percent of caloric intake in many Asian countries, while cassava - rich in calories but poor in nutrients - is the main food source for many Africans. In contrast to other countries in South Asia, such as Bangladesh and Nepal, India has been slow to tackle vitamin A deficiency. As a result, India represents 37 percent of victims, including roughly 80 million children. Experts argue these benefits should be seen in the light of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), targets agreed upon by all U.N. member states in 2000 to tackle extreme poverty and improve lives. The most recent U.N. scorecard showed that hunger and malnutrition rates are still abysmally high. In particular, sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing very high levels of hunger - in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Eritrea, over 60 percent of the population was listed as “undernourished”. The U.N. and national governments provide vitamin A capsules equivalent to the needs of 390 million of the 540 million children with deficiencies, but a lack of coordinated action has left millions outside the scope of these efforts. Dr. Klaus Kraemer of Sight and Life, a Swiss nutrition advocacy group, laments this lack of focus. “The World Health Organisation recommends two to three doses of vitamin A per year for children under the age of five years. This is based on scientific evidence indicating a mortality reduction of 24 percent. Now, the private sector has stepped in to fill the breach, providing supplements and helping to build capacity. DSM - a global leader in vitamins, with headquarters in the Netherlands - has teamed up with organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Bank, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), as well as charities like Vitamin Angels, to provide vital vitamins and nutrients to poor communities. “It is tragic that India is lagging behind in implementing this guideline, resulting in needless child deaths,” he said. Dr. Shilpa Vinod Bhatte, a medical professional based in Mumbai, told IPS that the Indian problem is partly due to local diets: “Hidden hunger and vitamin A deficiency in India is not just due to poverty but a lack of knowledge about the nutritive 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings DSM provides direct financial support - one million dollars for rice fortification in 2012 alone - as well as capsules, powders, technical expertise and logistical resources. 81 General vitamins Rice Fortification: The ‘Game Changer’ in Helping Solve Malnutrition and Poverty? “Vitamin Angels supports more than 100 NGOs in high-risk Indian states who help us reach close to three million children under five years at risk of going blind or dying due to vitamin A deficiency,” explained Bhatte. Huffpost Lifestyle 27 November 2012 Vitamin Angels, alongside Sight and Life and DSM, also works in communities across India to engage stakeholders on the ground, from NGOs and local governments to community leaders, to formulate long-term goals such as working through local institutions to set up a sustainable vitamin A distribution system. During November, Poverty Week will see over 70 national broadcasters run a series of films on the theme of “Why Poverty?” The event is designed to trigger a broader debate about the causes of poverty and what can and should be done to counter it. The good news is that we have reached a defining moment in the fight against poverty: we have begun to realise the massive contribution that nutrition can make. And this contribution looks set to be transformed by the “game changer” in the fight against poverty: fortified rice. Already, there are tangible results. Private contributions could push the number of children with access to Vitamin A capsules to 50 million by the close of 2013. These joint efforts are currently meeting approximately 17 percent of the unmet global demand. Micronutrients and poverty At least 2 billion people around the world still lack the nutrients they need to live healthy, active and economically productive lives, even if they have access to enough calories to survive. The effects of this ‘hidden hunger’ are rife in the developing world, where poverty and poor nutrition are a devastating combination, locking generations into a downward spiral of stunting, poor health and economic hardship. Private sector efforts have nudged the European Union and its member states to spotlight the problem as a crucial development issue. At a recent conference on development, the European Commission’s Francesca Mosca explained, “It is unbearable that so many children are dying from malnutrition. The time to act is yesterday, not tomorrow.” When you look at the root cause of the hidden hunger problem, lack of iron, vitamin A and zinc are most often to blame. Vitamin A deficiency is, for example, responsible for 1.2 million children going blind every year: overall, vitamin deficiencies lead to stunted growth in children, negatively affecting the development of body and mind. Mosca rightly pointed out that some efforts have started to bear fruit, based on a successful public-private partnership model. “We have been extremely involved in the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement”, a country-led initiative launched in 2010 to increase the efficacy of existing programmes. “I think it was the first time that all the actors came together: private sector, public sector, donors and partner countries.” As the Copenhagen Consensus 2012 Expert Panel of top global economists has consistently argued, the single best investment that can be made in terms of global health and development are ‘bundled micronutrient interventions’. The thinking is quite straightforward: the better people’s nutrition; the healthier and more productive they are, and the less strain there is on healthcare systems. The estimate is a 17-fold return on every dollar spent. Paulus Verschuren, the Dutch Government’s Special Envoy on food and nutrition security for development, speaking at the same event, stressed, “The (period) of a child’s life during which we can intervene is very short. Children’s futures depend on nutrition... it’s really a moment that we can’t afford to miss.” Nutrition plays a role in achieving almost every MDG - its impact on child health, for instance, could also boost the number of children attending school, promote gender equality by empowering women to take a more active role in their children’s health, and also improve maternal health, thereby reducing the maternal mortality ratio. Partnerships: the key to progress Over the past few years, we have seen a fundamental shift in the recognition of the importance of nutrition to health and poverty. We have seen a number of major and complementary initiatives all focused on harnessing the power of nutrition, including the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the United Nation’s Scale-Up-Nutrition (SUN) Framework, and new http://allafrica.com/stories/201211270157.hctml General vitamins 82 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings public private partnerships (PPP), like the one of my company with the United Nation’s World Food Programme or PPP projects like Project Laser Beam, or the Amsterdam Initiative on Malnutrition. resources of public bodies, NGOs and the private sector, and it is about creating an effective, sustainable approach to rice fortification, backed up by the right supply chains and longer term, market-based solutions. Real progress has been made, and central to this has been the willingness of the development community to draw on the private sector’s expertise and technology. My company has worked very closely with the World Food Programme (WFP), developing nutrition products that are tailored to the needs of particular population groups, and helping WFP to further develop their nutrition strategy. To date, 12 million people have benefited from this partnership, but what is really exciting is that this is just the beginning. We are now working to dramatically scale to ultimately cover hundreds, rather than tens of millions of people. Fortified rice - the game changer I’ve spent a lot of time travelling in Africa and Asia - so I know just how essential rice is to the diets of hundreds of millions of people in the developing world. As the world’s most important staple, rice is eaten by 2 billion people virtually every day, making up 20% of the planet’s caloric intake. In the main rice consuming regions, that figure is much higher - up to 70%. However, rice in its basic form consists essentially of carbohydrates, delivering calories, but not the major micronutrients that are essential for good health. It is no surprise therefore that a large number of these regions also suffer from ‘hidden hunger’. However, if we can find a way to fortify the rice eaten around the world to ensure it contains the necessary vitamins and minerals, this could be a game-changer in terms of health care and poverty. The good news, and a real cause for optimism, is that the WFP is currently working on a strategic approach to rice fortification, which my company is supporting as a partner. Earlier this year, DSM dedicated USD 1 million to World Food Programme nutrition activities in Asia. The USD 1 million, which will support rice fortification policy and programme development, will also include an in-kind donation of fortified rice, containing essential micronutrients which can be mixed in with regular rice, with no change to taste or color. But this is just the beginning - far more can and will be done to turn rice into a solution for malnutrition in the developing world. The answer to the question is therefore a clear yes; it can be done. We have the opportunity to turn the world’s staple food into a “game changer” to help solve malnutrition and as a consequence poor health and poverty. It’s a very exciting opportunity, and one that we must seize. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/stephan-b-tanda/ricefortification-the-ga_b_2196393.html Can it be done? Speaking from the industry perspective, fortification of rice is not straightforward. In order to work, it is essential that the micronutrients are retained after the rice is washed and cooked, without affecting taste. This takes advanced technology, but it can be done. There are also costs involved in fortification, but these are very modest - the additional cost of fortification for rice is around 2-5% of the current price. This cost is far outweighed by increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs. The key to realising the massive potential of rice fortification from my perspective is not, however, technology or resources: it is the need to bring together the expertise, knowledge and 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 83 General vitamins Development Targets Ride on Vitamins “It is tragic that India is lagging behind in implementing this guideline, resulting in needless child deaths,” he said. Dr. Shilpa Vinod Bhatte, a medical professional based in Mumbai, told IPS that the Indian problem is partly due to local diets: “Hidden hunger and vitamin A deficiency in India is not just due to poverty but a lack of knowledge about the nutritive value of foods that need to be consumed to maintain good health – most diets of children under-five only consist of corn or rice or wheat porridge.” Interpress service 27 November 2012 Children living on Sri Lanka’s tea estates are among the country’s most malnourished. Credit: Amantha Perera/IPS BRUSSELS, Nov 26 2012 (IPS) - One hundred and ninety million – that’s more than the populations of Germany, France and Poland combined. It is also the number of children affected by vitamin A deficiency around the world. Still, there are signs that the trend is changing, largely due to a renewed push by development practitioners around the world to tackle the problem. An insufficient intake of this vital nutrient – found in foods like liver, carrots and kale – can be fatal and causes blindness in 250,000 to 500,000 children every year. The Copenhagen Consensus 2012 Expert Panel of top global economists assessed the most effective ways of allocating funds to address the world’s toughest challenges, and reported that “bundled micronutrient interventions” should be the top priority for investments in global health and development. One of the participants, Nobel laureate economist Vernon Smith, explained, “One of the most compelling investments is to get nutrients to the world’s undernourished. The benefits from doing so – in terms of increased health, schooling, and productivity – are tremendous.” One hundred years after Polish scientist Casimir Funk formulated the concept of vitamins, substantial progress has been made in promoting awareness that proper nutrition is vital to health. Yet much remains to be done, especially in the developing world, to spread awareness that simply solving the problem of hunger does not necessarily tackle the question of nutrition. Currently, 7.3 percent of the global health burden is caused by vitamin and nutrient deficiency. Indeed, the estimate put forward by the Copenhagen Consensus is a 17-fold return on every dollar spent. Poverty is the leading cause of many vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin A. Much of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is affected by severe cases of vitamin A deficiency – since many diets in this part of the world include only staples. For instance, rice can represent up to 70 percent of caloric intake in many Asian countries, while cassava – rich in calories but poor in nutrients – is the main food source for many Africans. In contrast to other countries in South Asia, such as Bangladesh and Nepal, India has been slow to tackle vitamin A deficiency. As a result, India represents 37 percent of victims, including roughly 80 million children. Achieving the MDGs Experts argue these benefits should be seen in the light of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), targets agreed upon by all U.N. member states in 2000 to tackle extreme poverty and improve lives. The most recent U.N. scorecard showed that hunger and malnutrition rates are still abysmally high. In particular, sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing very high levels of hunger – in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Eritrea, over 60 percent of the population was listed as “undernourished”. The U.N. and national governments provide vitamin A capsules equivalent to the needs of 390 million of the 540 million children with deficiencies, but a lack of coordinated action has left millions outside the scope of these efforts. Dr. Klaus Kraemer of Sight and Life, a Swiss nutrition advocacy group, laments this lack of focus. “The World Health Organisation recommends two to three doses of vitamin A per year for children under the age of five years. This is based on scientific evidence indicating a mortality reduction of 24 percent. Now, the private sector has stepped in to fill the breach, providing supplements and helping to build capacity. General vitamins 84 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Paulus Verschuren, the Dutch Government’s Special Envoy on food and nutrition security for development, speaking at the same event, stressed, “The (period) of a child’s life during which we can intervene is very short. Children’s futures depend on nutrition… it’s really a moment that we can’t afford to miss.” Nutrition plays a role in achieving almost every MDG – its impact on child health, for instance, could also boost the number of children attending school, promote gender equality by empowering women to take a more active role in their children’s health, and also improve maternal health, thereby reducing the maternal mortality ratio. DSM – a global leader in vitamins, with headquarters in the Netherlands – has teamed up with organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Bank, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), as well as charities like Vitamin Angels, to provide vital vitamins and nutrients to poor communities. Renu Devi, of Bagwanpur Rati village in India’s Bihar state, with her children who take the Vitamin A doses. Credit: Sujoy Dhar/IPS DSM provides direct financial support – one million dollars for rice fortification in 2012 alone – as well as capsules, powders, technical expertise and logistical resources. http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/11/development-targets-ride-onvitamins/ “Vitamin Angels supports more than 100 NGOs in high-risk Indian states who help us reach close to three million children under five years at risk of going blind or dying due to vitamin A deficiency,” explained Bhatte. Vitamin Angels, alongside Sight and Life and DSM, also works in communities across India to engage stakeholders on the ground, from NGOs and local governments to community leaders, to formulate long-term goals such as working through local institutions to set up a sustainable vitamin A distribution system. Already, there are tangible results. Private contributions could push the number of children with access to Vitamin A capsules to 50 million by the close of 2013. These joint efforts are currently meeting approximately 17 percent of the unmet global demand. Private sector efforts have nudged the European Union and its member states to spotlight the problem as a crucial development issue. At a recent conference on development, the European Commission’s Francesca Mosca explained, “It is unbearable that so many children are dying from malnutrition. The time to act is yesterday, not tomorrow.” Mosca rightly pointed out that some efforts have started to bear fruit, based on a successful public-private partnership model. “We have been extremely involved in the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement”, a country-led initiative launched in 2010 to increase the efficacy of existing programmes. “I think it was the first time that all the actors came together: private sector, public sector, donors and partner countries.” 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 85 General vitamins Looking forward: The emerging evidence for vitamins and health In addition supplementation has been backed to help boost the recovery of critically ill children , and improve the development of the baby brain and motor skills , in addition to increasing life expectancy by battling diabetes and heart disease. Nutraingredients.com 28 November 2012 Cancer risk A host of essential vitamins have been suggested to play a role in cancer risk reduction and helping to slow tumour growth, including vitamins A, B, D, and E, In the last 100 years vitamins have been found to play vital roles in our health and wellbeing, but the full benefits of many vitamins is yet to be elucidated. In this special edition article NutraIngredients looks at some of the areas of vitamin research that are showing promise for the future. Vitamin A is known to play a key role in regulating cell growth and division, which has led to many suggesting the potential of vitamin A in battling cancers. For example research published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology suggests that supplementation with vitamin A in the form of retinol could offer protection against skin cancer such as melanoma by up to 40% in women. While many of the links between vitamin consumption and health are relatively well established, there are many other areas that show great promise but have so far produced mixed results. From the potential for vitamin K to reduce the risk of developing diabetes , or the suggestions that vitamin C is needed to help baby brain development , right through to the long suggested but not yet established links between vitamin D levels and the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) – there is a wealth of research activity focusing on how vitamins function and how they may be implicated in human health. All eyes are on this new research for development and growth in vitamins for the next 100 years. Meanwhile supplementation with vitamin E could help to prevent cancer in patients with an under-recognized genetic disorder known as Cowden Syndrome (CS), and may also have benefits for liver cancer . Vitamin D has been suggested to play a role the prevention of certain cancers – including colon cancer and pancreatic cancer – on many occasions, with recent research from Japan linking the sunshine vitamin to a 40% lower risk of colorectal cancer . Vitamin D Often referred to as ‘the sunshine vitamin’ because of the body’s ability to produce it from sunlight, the fat soluble vitamin has a well-established role in maintaining calcium levels in the body and in building strong bones. Emerging areas Supplements of vitamins C and E may benefit women taking oral contraceptives by protect against the increase in markers of oxidative stress in those taking oral contraceptives. Researchers from Scotland, UK, have also suggested that vitamin E fortified foods could help in fight against childhood asthma . The team based at the University of Aberdeen recently launched a new study to test whether a vitamin E rich diet for mothers can help to modify the risk of childhood asthma. However the vitamin has been linked to a huge range of health benefits, including the development of MS , and modifications to the immune system that could help people with tuberculosis (TB) Because many cells in the body use vitamin D to help regulate critical cellular functions, deficiency has been suggested to lead to several chronic health problems and diseases, including a weakened immune system, mobility limitations and disability for older people ,increased risk of diabetes , and an increased possibility of developing cancers. Vitamin E has also been suggested to reduce the risk of motor neurone diseases , with long-term use of supplements linked to a lower risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by researchers analysing data from over one million people. Meanwhile researchers have suggested that women who experience painful menstrual cramps could find relief from highdose supplementation with vitamin D. General vitamins 86 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Harnessing the power of vitamins to prevent wellness vitamin B6. A simple multivitamin and mineral tablet before you become pregnant can supply these needs.” foodbev.com Moving away from the vitamin arena, he also had a very useful measure when it comes to food portions: “Use your hand to size portions so it adapts to your body scale, whether you’re a child or an adult. Two handfuls of vegetables to one of meat (or any protein) is the best ratio.” 3 December 2012 I attended an international conference on ‘100 Years in Vitamins’ in Basel last week. Sponsored by DSM, it involved speakers from all over the globe and revealed a number of facts about our vitamin impoverished diets and the power of vitamins to prevent illness and ageing, cognitive development and immune deficiencies.A black-tie dinner held in the Tinguely Museum the night before the conference celebrated the work of Jean Tinguely and his sculptural machines. Somewhat Heath Robinson in appearance and built on a grand scale, these moving monoliths underline the supremely balanced interaction of our physical make-up and how, without vital components, our bodily machines can falter and fail. The last speaker, lecturer Jeff Blumberg of Tufts University, ran through some of the most obvious benefits of the various vitamins saying how many can “delay the onset of frailty”. Others have particular optimal effects and can reduce colon cancer and the potential to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Did you know that: • Vitamin A reduces risk of melanoma. • Vitamin D protects neonatal brain development. • Vitamin E reduces the risk of liver cancer. • Vitamin K1 reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. Here are the top comments I gleaned from this presentationpacked day: Finally, he quoted Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Willing is not enough. We must do.” • DSM’s Manfred Eggersdorfer said: “A few years ago, we started talking about personalised nutrition, but we soon realised that we were 20 years too early. Nutrition cannot be reduced to individual vitamins. A great deal of research is already taking place. Nestlé for instance has six million children on vitamin programmes all over the world.” • Dr Jim Kaput of the Nestlé Institute of Science & Health talked about some of the progress made so far in pinpointing genetic diversity. “We can put you within 400 metres of where your grandparents were born with 95% accuracy. If a species does not adapt to its environment for food, then it will either die or move.” • Heike Bischoff-Ferarri, visiting scientist at the Bone Metabolism Laboratory, Tufts University, spoke on how one of the most serious worldwide vitamin deficiencies – that of vitamin D – has been the subject of a study into muscle control and falling: “We could prevent every third hip fracture,” she explained, “and reduce the chance of falling by 30% at age 65 and 50% at age 80. By using sunscreen on ourselves and our children, we are putting ourselves at greater risk.” • Professor Ibrahim Elmadfa talked about the importance of vitamin intake during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life: “A deficiency in vitamin A leads to an increase in respiratory tract infection. Folic acid (iron) is also critical to optimal health and 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings From a healthy scepticism that a balanced diet is enough, I’m off to buy some multivitamin tablets. http://www.foodbev.com/opinion/harnessing-the-power-ofvitamins-to-prev 87 General vitamins Vitamine: Die beste Dosis für die Gesundheit / Zukunftsvision der Vitaminforschung ist die perfekt ausgewogene individuelle Versorgung mit Vitaminen für einen optimal funktionierenden Körper Blumberg zeichnete ferner ein Szenario für die Zukunft der Vitaminforschung, in dem genetische Untersuchungen (“Genomics”) immer weiter verfeinert und genutzt werden sollen, um für jeden Menschen entsprechend seines genetischen Profils und der Eigenschaften seines Stoffwechsels die optimalen Zufuhrmengen für die einzelnen Vitamine definieren zu können. Bloomberg 4 December 2012 Quelle: Bloomberg, Jeffrey B. Vitamins: Preparing for the future. Vortrag auf dem Symposium “100 Years of Vitamins - Past, present, future: Micronutrients - Macro Impact”, 30. November 2012, Universität Basel Friedrichsdorf (Taunus) (ots) - Dass eine Unterversorgung mit einzelnen Vitaminen oft unbemerkt zu Funktionsstörungen im Organismus und langfristig gar zu Erkrankungen führen kann, ist bekannt. In Zukunft sollen gezielte Vitamineinnahmen nicht nur dem Ausgleich einer Unterversorgung und somit der Vorbeugung vor Krankheiten dienen, sondern maßgeschneidert Körperfunktionen optimieren. Dafür hat jüngst der amerikanische Antioxidantienforscher Prof. Jeffrey Blumberg von der Tufts University in Boston anlässlich des Symposiums “100 Jahre Vitamine” am 30. November 2012 an der Universität im schweizerischen Basel plädiert. Dabei wird es darauf ankommen, genauer zu definieren, in welcher Dosis die Vitamine am besten wirken und inwieweit individuelle Unterschiede im Organismus dabei eine Rolle spielen. Außerdem erklärte Blumberg, warum für die Erforschung der Wirksamkeit von Vitaminen so genannte Plazebokontrollierte Studien - der Goldstandard für Arzneimitteltests - letztlich nur eingeschränkt geeignet seien. Denn während Arzneimittelwirkungen in diesen Studien mit einer dem getesteten Arzneistoff nicht ausgesetzten (Plazebo-)Gruppe abgeglichen werden, seien Nährstoffuntersuchungen mit einer Vergleichsgruppe ohne jegliche Nährstoffzufuhr nicht möglich bzw. wären unethisch. Zudem würden zahlreiche Studien mit Probanden durchgeführt, die bereits bestens mit Vitaminen versorgt seien, so dass es nicht verwunderlich sei, dass zusätzliche Vitamingaben keine weiteren messbaren Effekte zeigen würden. Außerdem sollen Medikamente in diesen Studien innerhalb relativ kurzer Zeit bei der Behandlung bestehender Erkrankungen Wirkung zeigen, während der Nachweis, dass Vitamine der Entstehung von Krankheit vorbeugen können, hingegen Jahrzehnte benötigen kann. Bei Nährstoffen laute die Frage nicht, ob sie wirken, sondern wie viel für eine optimale Wirkung nötig ist. General vitamins 88 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings Vitamins: The best dose for health The future vision of vitamin research is a perfectly balanced individual vitamin intake for an optimally functioning body. Blumberg also sketched out a scenario for the future of vitamin research in which genetic studies (“genomics”) would be continually refined and applied to pinpoint the optimal intake of each vitamin for each individual based on their genetic profile and the characteristics of their metabolism. Bloomberg Source: Blumberg, Jeffrey B. Vitamins: Preparing for the future. Talk at the “100 Years of Vitamins – Past, present, future: Micronutrients – Macro Impact” symposium, November 30, 2012, University of Basel 4 December 2012 That an insufficient intake of individual vitamins can often go unnoticed and lead to malfunctions in the body – or even to long-term illness – is already known. In the future, targeted vitamin intake should not only serve to compensate for a deficiency and thus prevent diseases, but should also serve to optimize bodily functions on an individual basis. This was the case recently argued by the American antioxidants researcher Professor Jeffrey Blumberg of Tufts University in Boston at the “100 Years of Vitamins” symposium, held at the University of Basel in Switzerland on November 30, 2012. He noted that to achieve this, it would be important to better define the doses at which vitamins operate best and to what extent differences in individuals’ bodies play a role. Blumberg also explained why so-called placebo-controlled trials – the gold standard for drug testing – ultimately only have limited applicability when studying vitamins’ efficacy. He asserted that, while drug effects are being compared to a (placebo) group that has not been in contact with the drug on trial in those studies, nutritional studies with a control group that has no nutrient intake would be impossible, i.e. unethical. In addition, numerous studies have been conducted with subjects who were already well supplied with vitamins, so it is not surprising that additional vitamin supplements showed no further measurable effects. Moreover, the drugs in these studies are intended to produce effects in a relatively short time when being used to treat existing diseases, whereas evidence that vitamins prevent the onset of diseases can take decades to collect. Where nutrients are concerned, the question is not whether they are effective, but how much of them are necessary for optimal performance. 100 Years of Vitamins | Media clippings 89 General vitamins Health & Wellnes - The industry view: Dr. Manfred Eggersdorf, DSM Senior VP, Nutrition and Science Advocacy One of the largest food companies has just launched a nutrition institute and is assessing aging research. The focus here is really about vitamins, as companies realize that vitamins are essential and can provide information about them for the customers, due to the Regulation. foodingredientsfirst.com 4 December 2012 You are marking 100 years since vitamins were defined. What have been key milestones in benefiting people’s nutrition around the globe? 2012 marked the 100 year anniversary of vi¬tamins. Although diets have improved overall during this time, recent research highlights that population-wide vitamin intake inadequacies still exist even in the West¬ern World where plenty of food is available. For example, an assess¬ment published in the British Journal of Nutri¬tion this year suggests that three quarters of the population in Germany, the UK, and the US, does not meet the dietary intake recommendations of the respective countries for a number of essential micronutrients, including vitamin D. In 1890, the thinking was still largely that the macronutrients of protein, carbohydrates and fat were what you need for life. This changed in the years to follow and in 1934, the first commercial production of vitamin C started. Step by step, the other vitamins followed in the ensuing years. Nowadays, vitamins from industrial production are available and they are used in animal as well as in human nutrition. In the past 100 years, I believe we have seen the eradication of certain nutritional deficiency diseases. You can look at the impact of vitamin B1 deficiency in Asia and the thousands that died as a result and you can also think about vitamin C deficiency and the impact that that had on life. A great milestone was the fortification with folic acid in the 1990s, as a result of discovering the risk in folic acid deficiency and neural tube defects in babies. A number of countries immediately started mandatory fortification. This generated a storm around the world. Even though there were just 60 countries with mandatory fortification, a lot of countries have recommendations in place. Now we have a greater understanding of the relationship between nutrients for long term health and for healthy aging. The EU has a strategy to add two healthy life years to EU citizens by 2020. The key will be educating them about healthy lifestyles and improving diets. I now see a renaissance in vitamin research in the last decade. This started with the access to the hu¬man genome. We now understand the interaction of vitamins at a genetic level and a number of insights are now available. Scientists say that people with a certain genetic setup need more vitamin D and vitamin A because they cannot metabolize it well and therefore require supplementation. DSM has been campaigning for increased fortification with vitamin D for some time, includingg through research work in partnership with the International Osteoporosis Foundation. Now the company will focus more of its efforts on assessing vitamin E deficiency. DSM commissioned a recent YouGov poll which showed most Britons were not aware of the benefits of antioxidants more generally and vitamin E in particular. Vitamin E can have a substantial impact in reducing pre-term births: according to a recent study, vitamin E treatment can bring a reduction of nearly 30% in pre-term births – a particular issue on the UK, where 54,000 babies are born pre¬maturely in England alone. We spoke to Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, DSM Senior Vice-President for Nutrition and Science Advocacy about the century of vitamins and the potential in the new EU health claims environment. There have been so many Article 13 claims rejected by EFSA in general, but vitamins performed well. Has this led to a shift in marketing? Yes. Right now you have around 220 claims approved; more than 80% of which are for vitamins. In addition, there are claims for things like PUFAs and minerals, so micronutrients did very well with regards to EFSA. I expect that for consumer companies this will be a differentiating factor; that they can really use the health claim and what is connected to the product. I do see good chances for our products, as they maintain a high quality and we provide infor¬mation that our customers require around the products in terms of stability, bioavailability etc. 90 You speak a lot about the financial potential of nutritional intervention programs (e.g. vitamin D in Europe). But what is the actual cost of fortifying in both developed and developing countries? So is there a role for traditional vitamins to be customized within the personalized nutrition approach and aimed at particular target groups? Developments are definitely going in that direction and I see things moving forward in the following way. There will be tools available which measure the status on a vitamin/micronutrient level in general and then people can select foods which are rich in those micro¬nutrients and others in which they are lower. It is then a choice for the individual to take foods/supplements in order to compensate for a lower vitamin/mineral status. We now have tools available for measuring vitamin D and we have a meeting with a company which allows you to gain feedback on your micronutrient status via your mobile phone, together with recommendations. I do see that people will take far more care in the future than they do today, as one of the findings nowadays. In the case of taking vitamin D supplements, you can buy portions for one person, for a year in the range of €20-30, which is low, when compared to the impact of having a fracture or the higher risk of diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. In the case of vitamin A and B vitamins, you would not believe how low the cost of fortification is! For just €1-2 per person, per year you can provide the key vitamins in these countries. The Copenhagen Consensus recently reported that there is no greater payback than the advantages that come with food fortification. by Robin Wyers What would you like to see 20 years down the line from now in terms of fortification advances? Looking forward and considering the speed that we have in science and also on all the efforts taking place to address malnutrition in developing countries, my dream is that in 20 years from now people all over the world will get the right diet, with the right micronutrients. I believe that this is achievable. An essential part of being successful in this is public/private partnerships, so to jointly make it happen. And we need the industrial production of the vitamins. It cannot be done by just providing the food. When you look at the development of the global population, we have growing mega-cities of over 5 million inhabitants; so access to fresh food will not always be pos¬sible. There is a trend towards processed food. So we need foods which are fortified with micronutrients and I strongly believe that closing this gap will be possible in the next 20 years. 91 Interview with Dr. Klaus Kraemer on Tackling Malnutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies micronutrients to preschoolers as the single smartest way to allocate global aid dollars, with every $1 spent generating $30 in benefits—an astounding return on investment. Investing in nutrition can also raise a country’s GDP by at least 2 – 3 percent. When children are properly nourished, they can grow up to be healthy and productive, helping to lift their communities—and their countries—out of poverty. The link is clear, and so tackling malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies has to become a global focus if we are to address poverty. Globalfoodforthought 12 December 2012 Klaus Kraemer, Ph.D. is the Director of Sight and Life, a nonprofit humanitarian nutrition think tank of DSM, which cares about the world’s most vulnerable populations and exists to help improve their nutritional status. Acting as their advocates, Sight and Life guides original nutrition research, disseminates its findings and facilitates dialogue to bring about positive change. Sight and Life is currently celebrating their 100 Years of Vitamins campaign. What are some concrete examples of nutritional intervention programs that saved lives and reduced malnutrition? You have recently launched a campaign to celebrate 100 Years of Vitamins. How has our knowledge of vitamins and our approach to promoting nutrition changed in the past century? A great example is vitamin A supplementation programs, now implemented in 103 countries. Vitamin A deficiency affects an estimated 190 million preschool children worldwide; onequarter to half a million of these children become blind each year—and half of those die within 12 months of losing their sight. We’ve made tremendous progress addressing these cases of preventable blindness and death through twice-yearly distribution of vitamin A supplements to children under five. In 1999, only 16 percent of children were receiving the necessary doses of vitamin A; by 2007, that figure had more than quadrupled to 72 percent. Today, in some countries, 100 percent coverage has been achieved. These vitamin A supplementation programs have reduced under-five child deaths by 25 percent. Before the discovery of vitamins and their naming 100 years ago, people thought all food offered the same sustenance—that a pound of potatoes was the same as a pound of apples. Now we know that is not the case, and that there are 13 different vitamins essential for good health at every stage of the human lifecycle. Our bodies need these vitamins to grow, function, stay healthy and fight disease. Sadly, today one billion people suffer from hunger and do not get enough food, and at least two billion experience “hidden hunger”—they might get enough calories, but they do not get enough of the vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) their bodies need. The signs of vitamin deficiencies are not always visible (hence the name, “hidden hunger”); they include birth defects, anemia, blindness, impaired physical and mental growth, maternal and child death, brittle bones and increased susceptibility to disease. These affect not only health but an individual’s future potential. Vitamin deficiencies commonly occur when populations cannot afford or do not have access to enough diverse nutritious foods (such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, fruit and vegetables). As we connect the dots between optimal nutrition and health, our approach has shifted to promote a world where everyone not only has enough food, but enough of the right foods and sufficient essential vitamins—whether through diet, supplementation or fortification. Food fortification is another low-cost, high-impact intervention that is improving nutrition and saving lives. Food fortification is the addition of essential micronutrients to the staple foods people normally eat (such as rice, wheat and maize flour, sugar, salt and cooking oil); the practice delivers vital missing nutrients to whole populations without requiring them to change their eating habits. Iodized salt is now found in 70 percent of developing-world households—up from 20 percent in 1990—preventing mental retardation and giving millions a better future. Folic acid fortification of flour is now required by 57 countries, reducing cases of brain and spine birth defects by up to 70 percent. These are amazing initiatives making a real difference in people’s lives, but now we need to scale these up and continue to develop innovative ways of improving the health and outcomes of the most vulnerable. Why is it so important to tackle micronutrient deficiencies to reduce global poverty? What has been the impact of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in raising awareness of the prevalence of this “hidden hunger”? Micronutrient deficiencies prevent children from reaching their full potential as adults; malnutrition, especially during the 1,000 days between pregnancy and a child’s second birthday, can lead to irreversible physical stunting and cognitive impairment. But children who are well nourished are able to grow, learn and prosper. They achieve more in school, are better able to survive illnesses and tend to earn more as adults. The 2012 Copenhagen Consensus panel of experts ranked providing The impact of SUN—a country-led Movement with more than 100 organizations and entities working to increase the effectiveness of existing programs by supporting national priorities, encouraging alignment of resources and fostering broad ownership and commitment to nutrition—has been that 31 countries to date have committed to address hidden 92 hunger by scaling up nutrition programs and policies. These countries are home to more than 50 million children who have not reached the desired height for their age (who are stunted)—more than one quarter of all stunted children in the world. Stunting is an indicator of chronic malnutrition. With an emphasis on the 1,000 day window of opportunity between the start of pregnancy and a child’s second birthday, SUN countries and partners focus on implementing solutions that directly improve nutrition—such as support for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding until at least two years of age; and ensuring access to essential vitamins and minerals through a variety of interventions including supplementation, fortification and increasing dietary diversity—as well as efforts that have a broader influence on nutrition, such as empowering women, improving farming practices to increase the availability of nutrient-rich crops and improving access to health services. Food security and nutrition are closely related. What actions are needed to increase the chances of the pathways linking agriculture and nutrition? Angels, a leading independent humanitarian organization dedicated to combating malnutrition by connecting at-risk populations in need with essential micronutrients. By partnering with Vitamin Angels, Sight and Life strengthens local supply and distribution capacity of vitamin A, mobilizes communities and governments to recognize and address vitamin A deficiency and fosters the creation of vital public-private partnerships to combat vitamin A deficiency, improving the lives of millions of children and women. Over the years, we have widened our focus to include other essential micronutrients as well as the eradication of hidden hunger as major areas of our work. With our new focus on a multiple micronutrient approach, Sight and Life’s activities now include a range of activities and innovations including in-home fortification programs. These provide micronutrient powder mixtures packaged individually in singledose sachets. They can be added to meals in appropriate amounts during food preparation at home or at school, and fill the micronutrient gap of those most vulnerable to vitamin deficiencies. Sight and Life, as a non-profit nutrition think tank, has a triple focus: promoting research, sharing best practices and mobilizing support in order to improve the lives of the world’s people. In the past there has been a tendency to only talk about the need for food security, but we now know that food security without nutrition security will do little to improve lives—the two have to go hand in hand. It is crucial that we break down the silos we have traditionally worked within. Nutritionists, agriculturists, public health workers, financiers and businesses need to come together to develop and implement innovative solutions and business models to reach all people—poor and rich, urban and rural—with affordable nutritious foods. Some examples of success include the promotion of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (rich in vitamin A), fortification of staple foods with missing vitamins and minerals, and specialty products and delivery models for the most vulnerable. http://globalfoodforthought.typepad.com/global-foodfor-thought/2012/12/interview-with-dr-klaus-kraemer-ontackling-malnutrition-and-micronutrient-deficiencies.html <http://globalfoodforthought.typepad.com/global-food-forthought/2012/12/interview-with-dr-klaus-kraemer-on-tacklingmalnutrition-and-micronutrient-deficiencies.html> We also need to break down silos within governments themselves. Per Pinstrup-Andersen, the only economist to win the World Food Prize, recently warned, “There are few incentives in government for multi-disciplinary problem solving. The economy is set up around silos and people are loyal to their silos. Agricultural and health sectors are largely disconnected in their priorities, policy and analysis.” Within government, we need to change incentives to encourage working across ministries. In this way, we can begin to pinpoint the health and nutrition-related factors driving food systems, and identify the best policies and programs to boost nutrition in crops and diets. Fortunately, the SUN Movement is providing a mechanism by which to coordinate our collective solutions. What is Sight and Life doing to address malnutrition? Sight and Life was established in 1986 to improve access to vitamin A, which prevents blindness and saves lives (hence our name, Sight and Life). Forming strategic partnerships with other organizations is one way in which we contribute to achieving better nutrition for all. One such partnership is with Vitamin 93 We can’t address food security without addressing nutrition security We also need to change incentives within governments themselves. Per Pinstrup-Andersen recently warned: “There are few incentives in government for multi-disciplinary problem solving. The economy is set up around silos and people are loyal to their silos. Agricultural and health sectors are largely disconnected in their priorities, policy and analysis.” Within government, we need to remove silos and encourage working across ministries in order to pinpoint the health and nutrition-related factors driving food systems, and identify the best policies and programs to boost nutrition in crops and diets. Recent global efforts have provided a mechanism by which to coordinate our collective solutions—from food fortification to other actions to address nutrition—and that is the Scaling Up Nutrition, or SUN, Movement. The Economist Group Management Thinking Blog 13 December 2012 Last month, global thought leaders gathered in South Africa to discuss the challenge of boosting crop yields and nutrition at the “Feeding the World: Africa’s Role in Solving the Global Food Crisis” Economist Conference. The most important takeaway: nutrition impacts all sectors and needs to be addressed across the whole agro-food value chain. Expanded food production has done little to address the fact that malnutrition contributes to one-third of all under-five child deaths in developing countries. We know now that just increasing crop yields and filling bellies with staple foods doesn’t necessarily lead to improved nutrition. Some two billion people live with a chronic shortage of vital vitamins and minerals—a condition known as hidden hunger—that prevents them from being as healthy and productive as they could be. The SUN Movement is a global push for action and progress on improving nutrition. SUN is country-led, with more than 100 organizations working to increase the effectiveness of existing programs by supporting national priorities, encouraging alignment of resources and fostering broad ownership and commitment to nutrition. SUN partners focus on implementing solutions that improve nutrition, from supporting breastfeeding to improving farming practices and increasing the availability of nutrient-rich crops—and work across sectors to ensure that nutritional needs are met. To ensure that the citizens of Africa—and the world—have not only enough food, but enough nutritious food, we must acknowledge the inextricable link between food security and nutrition security. We need to consider not just the quantity of the food available, but the quality of the food as well. Africa must continue to take a leadership role in ensuring food and nutrition security for its citizens—it could even become the global breadbasket. The good news is that already, many leaders have stepped up: of the 31 countries that have joined the SUN Movement, 22 are African. We need even more leaders to join this commitment to investing in nutrition. Because when children are properly nourished, they can grow up to be healthy and productive adults. And when they are healthy and productive, their families, communities and countries become stronger. To accomplish this, it is critical that we break down the silos we have traditionally worked within. Nutritionists, agriculturists, public health workers, financiers and businesses need to come together to develop and implement innovative solutions and business models to reach all people—regardless of their income, or where they live—with affordable, nutritious foods. Some examples of success include the increased use of orangefleshed sweet potatoes (rich in vitamin A), fortification of staple foods with missing vitamins and minerals, and specialty products and delivery models for the most vulnerable. Klaus Kraemer, Ph.D. is the director of Sight and Life, a humanitarian nutrition think tank of DSM, which cares about the world’s most vulnerable populations and exists to help improve their nutritional status. Acting as their advocates, Sight and Life guides original nutrition research, disseminates its findings and facilitates dialogue to bring about positive change. Sight and Life is currently celebrating their 100 Years of Vitamins campaign. We all have a role to play in improving nutrition, but in order to do so, businesses need support from government to create, maintain and enforce the legal framework for interventions like food fortification, making public-private partnerships a critical way to improve nutrition. When governments create incentives and conducive environments for food fortification, businesses act—and the entire country benefits from a healthier, more productive society. http://www.management-thinking.org/content/wecan%E2%80%99t-address-food-security-without-addressingnutrition-security 94 95 DSM Nutritional Products To find out more about DSM’ Human Nutrition & Health solutions please visit www.dsm.com/human-nutrition or send an email to info.dnp@dsm.com, or contact your nearest DSM office. Europe Asia Pacific North America South Asia Latin America China DSM Nutritional Products Europe Ltd. Building 242, Wurmisweg 576 CH-4303 Kaiseraugst Switzerland Phone: +41 61 815 7777 Fax: +41 61 815 7860 Email:marketing.dnpe@dsm.com DSM Nutritional Products, LLC 45 Waterview Boulevard, Parsippany, NJ 07054 United States of America Phone: +1 800 526 0189 Fax: +1 973 257 8675 Email: hnh-marketing.dnpna@dsm.com DSM Productos Nutricionais Brasil Ltda. Av. 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