KEY INTERVIEW: DSM: Banishing the Confusion about Multi-Vitamins

15 Jul 2014 --- There have been questions raised recently about whether the regular consumption of multivitamins has any real health benefits; and as a consequence FoodIngredientsFirst decided to speak to DSM’s expert on the subject, Professor Manfred Eggersdorfer, to get a better understanding of the role multivitamins can play in a consumer’s diet.

Earlier this year three studies published in a leading journal examined whether the regular use of vitamin and mineral supplements actually brought consumers any health benefits. Writing in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the authors of the studies said they failed to find benefits from multi-vitamins, and suggested instead that people would be “better off spending money on healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans and low-fat dairy”, as well as taking up regular exercise.

Professor Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior vice-president Nutrition Science and Advocacy at DSM, and professor for Healthy Ageing at the University of Groningen, is greatly concerned by the conclusions published as a result of these studies. 

“There is a strong body of evidence to demonstrate the benefits that can be gained from daily multivitamin use, but so-called ‘sensational’ headlines often gain coverage due to the controversial nature of the content,” he says. “These conflicting messages can only confuse consumers and it is important that scientists, healthcare professionals and governments respond collectively to consistently reinforce the wealth of existing safe science.”

The ‘conflicting messages’ that these sensationalist studies present to consumers don’t provide the whole picture, and this is dangerous, explains Eggersdorfer. 

“People who really care for healthy nutrition and have a healthy diet with all the nutrients that are required for their daily needs including things such as complex cereals and dairy, will not need a daily multi-vitamin.… but we know very well that people do not follow and cannot follow this due to their lifestyles.”

Are people really vitamin deficient?

As an example, he explains that vitamin E intake is low and 93% of people do not get the recommended daily amount. “On top of this, we know that 61% of people in the US don’t get the recommended amount of magnesium, while calcium and vitamin A are around 60%.”

A good way to fix this of course is to complement the diet with supplements, he says. “We have an ageing population and a lot of food products to choose from, and in fact we have more choice than ever before. But what are the health outcomes of this? The answer is a rise in things such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. 

“Nutrition-based diseases are occurring before people hit the age of 70 years old,” he explains. “But a major part of this can be prevented by optimal lifestyle choices and nutrition is part of this.”

Eggersdorfer goes on to point out that the consequences of bad nutrition are clear, as we are also seeing a rise in health problems such as osteoporosis, fractures and macular eye disease. “Vitamins are essential for metabolism and responsible for growth, so we need them. People do not realise they are lacking certain vitamins, so we need to generate awareness.”

DSM – working with vitamins

One area of focus for DSM is Vitamin D, which is a subject the company is working intensively on. “We need to communicate how much a person needs in order to achieve the optimal daily recommended amount to maintain good health and to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and diabetes and so on.” 

DSM is committed to the subject of vitamin intake and raising awareness of health problems associated with a vitamin deficient diet, explains Eggersdorfer. “We are engaged in a science approach and provide scientific information on nutrients. There have been a number of studies in Europe, which we have been involved in. One, for example, was a health study across several thousand elderly people where we looked at vitamin D intakes. All health outcomes were measured and this is helping us look into ways at reducing osteoporosis. We provide input into a range of studies like this.” 

The company is also looking at studies of Vitamin E, which are aimed at tackling things such as a reduction of the impact of liver disease. It also provides its expertise in studies on diabetes. 

“We work with groups such as the Inter Osteoporosis foundation and we work with authorities and scientists. There has been a lot of progress in the science side of things.”

Are fortified foods a good alternative to multi-vitamin supplements?

“Eating foods such as power bars and cereals is a good way to get vitamins and minerals into the diet,” explains Eggersdorfer. “We are engaging with customers to work out the best way to do this.”

DSM is being asked to work in more and more diverse applications for fortified foods. 

“I do see this as a trend,” he says. “In principle the best way is to provide a range. We see some products have a high popularity for certain population groups. Making products for younger people and sports enthusiasts is one way that companies are tailoring products of this type.”

How involved is DSM in the health claim side?

“We are heavily engaged in the health claim side,” he explains. “There have been a number of health claims in Europe recently and we help to provide the scientific benefits of these. Food companies are providing them more and more and wanting to get this information over to the consumer. I see this as a growing area in the future.

“We at DSM are very much building on science-based claims though there have been many challenges by scientists because there are products around that don’t follow the rules. In addition, regulatory bodies have different approaches.
“To summarise, we are committed to science and to improving nutrition globally,” he explains. “Our ambition is to raise awareness.”