Beyond The Headlines: WFP warns for catastrophic hunger in Sudan, L-Nutra provides virtual diabetes care

15 Dec 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) revealed that Sudan could be in catastrophic hunger conditions by May of 2024. At the same time, L-Nutra unveiled a partnership with Love.Life Telehealth to provide virtual diabetes care. Also, NourishedRx joined forces with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Minnesota, US, to end maternal healthcare inequity within marginalized communities.

Nutrition news
The WFP is warning that in Sudan — a country once seen as East Africa’s potential breadbasket — a severe hunger crisis is escalating, with the warning of catastrophic hunger conditions by 2024’s lean season. Currently, nearly 18 million people in Sudan suffer acute hunger, more than double the number from last year and higher than the 15 million projected in August. Approximately five million are in emergency food insecurity, with limited humanitarian access due to ongoing conflict. As the conflict nears its eighth month, a record level of hunger has been observed during the usually food-abundant harvest season, and the organization notes that, without increased food assistance by next May, areas like Khartoum, the Darfurs and the Kordofans may face catastrophic hunger — known as Phase 5 in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The WFP now urgently calls for a humanitarian pause and unrestricted access to the country to prevent a hunger catastrophe.Love.Live Telehealth and L-Nutra partnered to provide virtual services for an FMD-based diabetes treatment program.

Meanwhile, L-Nutra, a leader in nutrition technology and longevity science, has partnered with Love.Life Telehealth to offer virtual healthcare services alongside its fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) program for diabetes care. The L-Nutra Health for Diabetes program, which is based on a five-day FMD, is plant-based and designed to activate the body’s natural healing processes for better sugar management. The program has shown significant results, including medication reduction, HbA1c decrease, weight loss and muscle preservation. L-Nutra highlights the program’s innovative approach to achieving health outcomes without traditional daily lifestyle changes or increased medication. Love.Life Telehealth will assist in guiding patients through medication adjustments during the FMD cycles.

NourishedRx has joined forces with Blue Plus, an affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, to tackle maternal health inequity. The initiative, a response to diet-related diseases and food insecurity among diverse populations in state public health programs, follows a successful 2021 pilot program with Blue Plus enrollees that improved birth outcomes. During the pilot, participants received nutrition education, wellness resources, support from dietitians, personalized meals and groceries. The program led to fewer emergency care needs, no low birth-weight babies and a lower neonatal intensive care unit admissions rate. Starting January 2024, this nutrition program will be available to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) birthing individuals enrolled in Medicaid or Medical Assistance through Blue Plus in all 87 Minnesota counties. The program aims to help the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s 2021 goal to reduce maternal health inequities by half in five years and to emphasize the importance of culturally tailored food and nutrition for birthing persons and babies.

Business news
Gnosis by Lesaffre has established the world’s first scientific advisory committee focused on vitamin K2 research, the Gnosis Vitamin K2 Scientific Advisory Committee (K2SAC), led by Professor Leon Schurgers. The committee aims to explore new indications for vitamin K2. It has recently appointed two new experts — Dr. Stefanos Roumeliotis from Greece, specializing in chronic disease research, and Dr. Sola Bahous from the Lebanese American University School of Medicine, with expertise in arterial stiffness and renal failure. The K2SAC’s inaugural meeting was held in Lille, France, where the future of Vitamin K2 research was discussed. This committee is part of Gnosis by Lesaffre’s effort to expand global research on vitamin K2, identify specific population needs, provide clinical evidence for its benefits and highlight its potential applications in health and wellness products.Rousselot received a patent for its SiMoGel gelatin technology in Brazil (Image Credit: Rousselot).

Rousselot, a health brand of Darling Ingredients, announced the granting of a Brazilian patent for SiMoGel, a gelatin technology that simplifies nutraceutical gummy production by eliminating the need for starch-based processes. SiMoGel enables the use of silicon or metal molds, offering a cleaner, dust-free production environment and drastically reducing setting time from 24 hours to under 30 minutes. This patent follows earlier approvals by the US Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office. The company states that SiMoGel is an innovation for efficient, hygienic gummy production and notes that the nutraceutical gummy market has seen rapid growth.

APC Microbiome Ireland, the world’s first microbiome research institute, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Today the company launched its “20 Years Impact” brochure, highlighting the institute’s contributions to microbiome research, which includes over 3,000 scientific publications advancing the understanding in areas such as antimicrobial resistance and chronic diseases. APC says its collaborations have led to the development of probiotics and other products, attracting €72 million (US$78.8 million) in industry funding and resulting in five spin-off companies. APC also conducted the first national microbiome survey in Ireland, revealing a growing awareness of the microbiome, gut health and probiotics.

Product launches
This holiday season, Isopure, a leader in protein drinks and powders, collaborates with actress Molly Sims to offer recipes that blend indulgence and nutrition, incorporating its unflavored whey protein isolate and zero-carb vanilla protein powder into holiday favorites. The company also states that its powders, which offer 25 grams of protein per scoop, can be used in various dishes, from smoothies to pancakes and cookies. To inspire more festive cooking, it is working with over ten recipe developers and food enthusiasts, showcasing their unique takes on holiday dishes using Isopure protein powder on Instagram and TikTok. An Austria-based study found new microbiome interactions with the prebiotic inulin.

Garden of Life unveils a new herbals collection featuring six products blending nature and science. The company says the new solutions offer clinically studied ingredients for targeted solutions. The range includes Liposomal Berberine capsules for blood glucose support, Stress Relief Gummies for mood and digestive health, Brain Health capsules for memory and concentration, Heart Health capsules for cholesterol and blood pressure, Menopause + Hair Growth soft gels for menopausal symptom relief and hair health and Eye Health soft gels for macular and retinal support. The products come in various formats, including soft gels, capsules and gummies.

Scientific studies
Researchers from the University of Vienna led a study on the effects of inulin, a popular prebiotic, on the gut microbiome. Published in Nature Communications, the study used fluorescence-labeled nanoparticles to track inulin’s interaction with gut bacteria, revealing that, contrary to previous assumptions, a wide range of gut bacteria, not just Bifidobacteria, responded to inulin. According to the research team, the discovery underlines the complex nature of gut microbiota responses, the importance of personalized dietary supplements and the need for personalized and scientifically-backed microbiome-based therapies and dietary recommendations.

Lastly, the California Prune Board is touting the result of a study that suggests that daily prune consumption may reduce inflammation and bone loss in postmenopausal women. Published in The Journal of Nutrition, the study included 183 participants who showed significant reductions in inflammatory cytokines and activated monocytes — which is linked with bone strength preservation and overall bone health — when supplementing with 50 to 100 grams of prunes daily, attributed to the bioactive compounds in prunes. The study is part of ongoing research into “food as medicine” and emphasizes the role of diet in disease prevention and management. This research contributes to understanding bone health and chronic disease risk mitigation through dietary choices.

By William Bradford Nichols