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Nestlé research symposium: Nutritional approaches for cardiovascular and metabolic health

Updated: 2014-10-20 11:55
(chinadaily.com.cn)

Nestlé research symposium: Nutritional approaches for cardiovascular and metabolic health

Speaker Dr. Lucas Actis-Goretta

Nestlé Research Center Beijing & GW-ICC Joint Symposium

The 25th Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology (GW-ICC) andAsia Pacific Heart Congress (APHC) 2014 are nowbeing held in Beijing. To coincide with theseimportant events, the Nestlé Research Centre Beijing has organized a joint symposium with GW-ICC. The symposium focuseson nutritional approaches for cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Diet playsan important role in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and dietary interventions are a complement to a therapeutic regimen. Assuch, experts have been invited from China and abroad to highlight the importance of nutrition and exercise in the management of cardiovascular and metabolic risks and to promote cardiovascular health.Prof. Dayi Hu, the president of the GW-ICC is giving the opening speech. The symposium is beingchaired by Prof. Zhaosu Wu, the president of the China Hypertension League and Prof. Zhiming Zhu, the director of the Center for Hypertension and Metabolic Disease, The Third Military Medical University.

The keynote symposium speaker, Prof. Yang-Feng Wu, from Peking University Clinical Research Institute and School of Public Health, is giving a presentationon “The effectiveness of community-based intervention on the management of chronic non-communicable diseases in China”. The talk describes how dietary and lifestyle intervention have significant impact on the management of cardiovascular risks and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD)at thepopulation level.

Prof. Jianqin Sun, from Huadong Hospital at FudanUniversity,is presentingher study on “The role of phytosterols in blood lipid management on hyperlipidemia patients in China” This study is the first to demonstrate the beneficial effect of phytosterol in a dairy matrix in Chinese peoplewith mild hypercholesterolemia. Phytosterol intakehasbeen demonstrated as an efficient nutritional solution to reduce elevated total blood cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Its benefit has been supported by many regulatory bodies (i.e.EFSA and FDA).Recently introduced as a novel food in China, phytosterols have been recommended for daily consumptionby the China Nutrition Societysince 2013.

The development of atherosclerosis is preceded by a dysfunction of the vasculature due to cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, ageing and hypertension. Dietary factors play an important role in vascular health. For instance, saturated fats interfere with the normal function of the vasculature while other dietary nutrients,such as polyphenols, can reverse dysfunction of thevasculature. In this context, Dr. Lucas Actis-Goretta, from Nestlé Research Center Lausanne, Switzerland willgive an overview of the research that Nestlé and others are doing in this area. “Our preliminary results suggest that coffee polyphenols have similar beneficial effects to cocoa polyphenols on the human vasculature”, says Dr Actis-Goretta “Together, with Nestlé Research Center Beijing, we are also examining whether other food ingredients, including traditional Chinese ingredients, could bring similar cardiovascular benefits.

Nestlé has the world's largest food and nutrition research organization, with about 5000 people involved in R&D, as well as corporate venture funds and research partnerships with business partners and universities. This global R&D network has two key objectives: promoting people’s health through food and beverages and finding solutions to help them manage chronic diseases. The Nestlé Research Center and its extensive network of external alliances, is a leading research entity in food, nutrition and life sciences and is at the core of fundamental scientific research within Nestlé’s global R&D network.

In line with its commitment to enhance the quality of people’s lives, Nestlé also actively promotes healthier lifestyles, nutrition and dietary information through academic exchange and education such asthe sponsorship ofworkshops, symposia, scientific publications, educational materials and scholarships.

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