Nestlé Science And Research And Ge Collaborate To Explore New Frontiers In Diagnostics For Health And Nutrition

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 15 May 2008 - 2:00 PST

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The Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland and GE Global Research, the General Electric Company's (NYSE: GE) centralized research and development organization, announce an innovative collaboration to scientifically assess associations between body composition, metabolic status, diet and lifestyle habits.

This unique relationship brings together the dynamic competencies of the Nestlé Research Center, experts in metabolism, nutrition and health research, and GE's extensive knowledge in diagnostic technologies. A primary goal of the collaboration is to gain a deeper understanding of the connection between body composition, metabolic profile and health.

GE Healthcare's Lunar iDXA system, an innovative imaging technology, will be used by Nestlé scientists to measure subjects' body fat, muscle and bone mineral density, extending beyond the limited measures of body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip-ratio. Researchers will study the correlations between lifestyle habits, body composition measurements and metabolic data to better understand the biological drivers of individuals' metabolism and health.

"Through this collaboration with GE we have the opportunity to use cutting-edge diagnostic tools to increase our understanding of how nutrition and lifestyle choices impact body composition and metabolic health," said Prof. Peter van Bladeren, Head of Nestlé Science and Research. "With this knowledge, Nestlé can continue to deliver science-based nutritional products to improve and enhance the quality of peoples' lives."

The results will provide direction for the development of non-invasive, rapid, precise and accurate assessment tools for clinicians to evaluate the impact of nutritional interventions on metabolic status and overall health. Additionally, this data will help researchers identify specific metabolic parameters that can potentially be improved via diet and lifestyle.

"In the face of a worldwide obesity epidemic, providing better tools to track the functional benefits of weight management, nutrition and lifestyle has become an international healthcare priority," said Mark Little, Senior Vice President and Director, GE Global Research. "The use of GE's diagnostic tools will provide Nestlé scientists with more information on how diet and lifestyle measures can be optimized to help people lead healthier lives and ultimately make healthcare systems more efficient by more effectively managing and treating obesity."

About Nestlé Science and Research

Nestlé Science & Research, encompassing the Nestlé Research Center and its extensive network of external alliances, is a leading research entity in food, nutrition and life sciences. Based on Nestlé's research emphasis, Nestlé Science & Research builds strategic alliances with the best scientific institutions in the world to bring a full breadth of knowledge to its nutrition, health and wellness research. A diverse staff of premier researchers from a broad range of scientific competencies together with external collaborators worldwide are central to fulfilling Nestlé's vision of Good Food, Good Life.

Nestlé Research is very active in consumer health benefit areas, employing a multidisciplinary approach to science and research. Integrating diverse scientific disciplines and expertise ranging from biology, food technology, nutrigenomics and sociology, Nestlé strives to bring practical nutrition solutions to consumers. Learn more about the Nestlé Research Center at http://www.research.nestle.com.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work - a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, and media content, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.

About GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, performance improvement, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies is helping clinicians around the world re-imagine new ways to predict, diagnose, inform, treat and monitor disease, so patients can live their lives to the fullest.

GE Healthcare's broad range of products and services enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and other conditions earlier. Our vision for the future is to enable a new "early health" model of care focused on earlier diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries.

GE Healthcare

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