Personalized Nutrition Studies Aim to Reduce Deficiencies

A recent article from Huffington Post noted too many people have nutrient deficiencies, but work from ingredient companies are helping clinicians better understand which populations are likely to be in need of nutrients.

Sandy Almendarez, VP of Content

September 28, 2015

3 Min Read
Personalized Nutrition Studies Aim to Reduce Deficiencies

The Huffington Post recently noted that one in 10 people in the United States has a nutrient deficiency. The article “8 Nutrients You May Be Lacking," reported data from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed many Americans aren’t getting the recommended amounts of vitamin B6, iron, vitamin D, vitamin D, vitamin C and vitamin B12.

 While the article quoted experts who believe it’s better to get nutrients from food, some said several nutrients, such as vitamin D, may need to be consumed through supplementation.

Instead of guessing about nutrient status, the article said it’s best to know which nutrients are lacking in their diets. “The bottom line on nutritional deficiencies: If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, ask your doctor if you should be checked for a nutrient deficiency," the article concluded.

“Checked for nutrient deficiency," however is not a simple test. Manfred Eggersdorfer, professor of healthy aging at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands, said food intake surveys can be inaccurate because people don’t always tell the truth about what they eat. “People underreport energy intake, but over report nutrient intake," he said.

Eggersdorfer, who is also senior vice president of nutrition science and efficacy at DSM, has been working with other nutritionists and clinicians to assess the nutrient status in individuals and populations. His work is part of a collaboration between the UMCG and DSM.

Instead of intake surveys, UMCG is testing more than 160,000 people using blood biomarkers, which take into account nutrient bioavailability, the effect of the genetic differences and the effects of different microbiomes.

“We knew the patients’ health history, their nutrient intake, health markers—like blood pressure—and their social economic status," he said. “We are connected the findings to different phenotypes."

Eggersdorfer said this data will be use to connect nutrient statuses to health outcomes, and explore how this information can be used by medical doctors and other experts.

“Do people who have a higher BMI need more vitamin D, E and K?," Eggersdorfer asked. “Or do people with high blood pressure need more B vitamins?  Overall, we will get connections and findings from intake status and health outcomes."

DSM’s plan is to use this information develop nutritional solutions tailored to different populations. DSM’s customers in the food, supplement or pharmaceutical industries will have stronger scientific support to how their products work, Eggersdorfer said.

Articles like the one from Huffington Post show too many people have nutrient deficiencies, but different people are lacking different substances. Work from research institutions and ingredient companies are combining their powers to help better understand which populations are likely to be in need of nutrients.

Combine this with the personal health trackers that can help consumers understand their individualized nutrient deficiencies, and hopefully articles like “8 Nutrients You May be Lacking" won’t be written; people will already know what nutrients they lack. And when they know, they can supplement with those nutrients, and then, they won’t be lacking.

About the Author

Sandy Almendarez

VP of Content, Informa

Summary

• Well-known subject matter expert within the health & nutrition industry with more than 15 years’ experience reporting on natural products.

• She cares a lot about how healthy products are made, where their ingredients are sourced and how they affect human health.

• She knows that it’s the people behind the businesses — their motivations, feelings and emotions — drive industry growth, so that’s where she looks for content opportunities.

Sandy Almendarez is VP of Content for SupplySide and an award-winning journalist. She oversees the editorial and content marketing teams for the B2B media brands SupplySide Supplement Journal and SupplySide Food & Beverage Journal, the education programming for the health and nutrition trade shows SupplySide Connect New Jersey and SupplySide West, the education program SupplySide Fresh for industry newcomers and community engagement across the SupplySide portfolio. She is a seasoned content strategist with a passion for health, good nutrition, sustainability and inclusion. With over 15 years of experience in the health and nutrition industry, Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a content-focused business leader. With specialization in topics ranging from product development to content engagement, creative marketing and c-suite decision making, her work is known for its engaging style and its relevance for business leaders in the health and nutrition industry.

In her free time, Sandy loves running, drinking hot tea and watching her two kids grow up. She brews her own “Sandbucha” homemade kombucha; she’s happy to share if you’re ever in Phoenix!

Awards:

Speaker credentials

Resides in

  • Phoenix, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University

Contact:

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