The Evolving Role of Vitamins: DSM Presents at Nicholas Hall's 5th Asia-Pacific Consumer Healthcare Conference

By:  DSM Pharma Solutions Editors

Araksya Topchyan (pictured, above) presents on behalf of DSM at Nicholas Hall’s 5th APAC Consumer Healthcare Conference. The session highlighted the evolution of vitamins from supplements to customized therapeutic treatments in the context of chronic comorbidities.

According to the WHO’s Global Health Observatory report, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and COPD encompass the top three global causes of death, with six of the top ten causes of death representing chronic, noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus and dementia.[1] By 2035, an estimated 592 million individuals will be living with diabetes, a projected increase of 55 percent.[2]  Many of these diseases disproportionately affect developing economies and patient cohorts with significant unmet needs, further compounding the need to explore innovative, evidence-based treatments.

At Nicholas Hall’s 5th APAC Consumer Healthcare Conference in Singapore, Araksya Topchyan, Global Marketing Manager, Pharma at DSM discussed the growing body of scientific evidence supporting the utilization of high-dose vitamins as therapeutic treatments and/or adjuvants in a variety of high-burden, chronic disease states including, but not limited to, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, burnout and post-stroke treatment.

In the US alone, 10,000 individuals turn 65 every day, of which 91 percent have four or more chronic health concerns.  The preponderance of chronic comorbidities both in the US and abroad demonstrate how critical it is to treat patients holistically.[3,4] 

Whether it’s exploring the treatment of metformin-induced B12 deficiency and resultant neuropathies through drug-vitamin coformulations or further elucidating the role of vitamins in impacting human gut bacteria, emerging research continues to challenge the role of vitamins solely as preventative care supplements (i.e. pills for healthy people).[5]

Topchyan’s presentation critically and thoughtfully explored focused and patient-centered treatment options in the context of causative disease mechanisms, drug-nutrient interactions, and pharmacogenomics.