As part of the company’s vow to make medical nutrition a core component of international cancer care standards, Danone has become the first food company to partner with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and has also become a signatory of the ‘Working with Cancer’ pledge.
“Integrating nutrition into cancer care is essential to improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for people living with cancer,” said Dr Cary Adams, CEO of UICC. “UICC welcomes Danone’s commitment to making nutrition a fundamental pillar of cancer care. By putting people at the center, we can drive meaningful progress for those affected by cancer and communities worldwide.”
Making nutrition a core part of international care standards
Around 20 million new cancer diagnoses are made every year, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), with cases expected to rise by 77% to 35 million by 2050.
Malnutrition is a common issue among these patients, yet only one in three cancer patients who need medical nutrition receive it. This costs the European Union an estimated €17 billion a year and results in roughly a third of patients delaying or stopping treatment.
“Often the first symptom of cancer is that you lose weight,” Katrien Van Laere, Danone’s senior vice president and chief medical and scientific officer told NutraIngredients. “What happens is that your body breaks down more than it builds – the catabolic reaction is bigger than the anabolic.”
Even before a diagnosis is given, cancer patients may therefore be at risk of malnutrition. Once treatment begins, many patients will then go on to develop gastrointestinal issues, such as ‘leaky gut’, which results in lower nutrient absorption, increasing the risk of malnutrition. However, oncologists are often focused on treating the cancer itself, which can result in malnutrition becoming overlooked.
Danone is therefore calling for all cancer patients to be screened for malnutrition at diagnosis and then followed up across the course of their treatment. Van Laere said this is an important first step in ensuring that nutritional care is appropriately monitored.
“When people are diagnosed with cancer, their weight should be measured and monitored to allow for diagnosis and intervention,” she said. “We need to start with recognizing it, then screening it, and then following the patient up during the full treatment.”
Unique nutritional needs of cancer patients
Cancer patients have unique nutritional needs, depending on the type of cancer they have and the accompanying symptoms. For example, many cancer patients experience taste changes, causing food to taste metallic or bland, while others may have painful mouth ulcers, making it difficult to eat.
Many patients will therefore require nutritional support to overcome reduced appetite and these additional symptoms.
“If you really want to tackle disease-related malnutrition, it’s about the combination of energy, vitamins, minerals, then of course the proteins and the omega fats,” Van Laere said.
Danone’s own medical nutrition products include Nutrison, an enteral tube feeding product for patients who cannot eat and drink normally, and Fortimel oral nutrition supplements to support malnourished cancer patients with taste alterations.
Fortimel is energy dense, offering 300-400 kcal in one small bottle. It contains key nutrients including protein (around 20 g) to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation, and key vitamins and minerals to support key bodily functions. It is also cooling on the mouth to reduce oral pain upon consumption.
Other malnutrition products, such as those from Complan and Meritene, contain similar ingredients, such as milk, fats, sugars and a blend of vitamins and minerals. Cancer Research UK also recommends homemade drink blends for patients struggling with poor appetite. The charity suggests a blend of ingredients such as milk, fresh fruit, yoghurt, honey, sugar or ice cream to ensure high levels of protein, calories and micronutrients.
“Medical nutrition reduces the complications of cancer treatment,” said Van Laere. “It ensures patients have less infections and it provides strength and energy to ensure patients are able to continue their treatment.”
Looking ahead
Danone will continue to offer educational resources, patient support programs and digital tools to help patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals integrate nutrition into daily cancer care.
As a signatory of the Working with Cancer Pledge, it will also offer enhanced job security, nutritional support, and personalized assistance to its employees living with cancer, while actively addressing workplace stigma.
