Improving nutrition to tackle non-communicable diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are the leading causes of death globally, killing more people each year than all other causes combined. More than 36 million people die annually from NCDs, including 9 million who die too young before the age of 60. Globally, NCDs will increase by 17% in the next 10 years.

Mother carrying child in sling on her back, her head turned to smile at child

Nutrition is vital in disease prevention

Improving nutrition is the most fundamental and effective way of tackling NCDs. In fact six leading NCDs, which contribute to 70% of deaths worldwide are all modifiable by an appropriate diet providing an adequate intake of micronutrients. Furthermore eminent economists have concluded that micronutrient fortification and supplementation are the most cost-effective interventions to address global health and development problems.

Global leaders take action

At the 2011 UN Summit in New York, a call was made for global action to tackle the NCD epidemic. This first-ever UN meeting on NCD's led to a new political declaration which calls for a ‘whole society effort’ to prevent and control NCDs worldwide. At the high-level meeting on Nutrition, where DSM Managing Board member Stephan Tanda was invited to speak on behalf of the private sector, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon concluded that the answer to both obesity and malnutrition is better nutrition. He emphasized that NCD’s can have their roots in poor nutrition during infancy.

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, confirmed that ensuring that women and children receive essential nutrients is crucial to setting them on a better path towards lifelong health - and sees the investment in nutrition as both vital and highly effective.

‘Future Fortified’ kicks off with support for Africa

DSM, together with Herbalife, has made a donation of 20 million micronutrient powder MixMe packets, to fill the critical nutrition gaps for those suffering from one of the worst famines to hit the Horn of Africa. More than a one-off donation, this commitment also signals DSM’s involvement in a new major global nutrition campaign, Future Fortified, which will inform, influence, and invest, in order to improve the lives of millions of women and children worldwide.

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