HÀ NỘI — The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) is working with Japanese partners to research and produce food supplement products for the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Participants heard this at a workshop today in Hà Nội on scientific evidence of health supplements as part of the cooperation between Japan and NIN.

The cooperation is part of NIN’s scientific research strategy for improving nutrition status and health of people as well as reducing the increase of NCDs in Việt Nam.

“Scientific research showed that many food supplements contribute to treating and preventing nutrition-related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity,” NIN director Lê Danh Tuyên said at the event.

‘That’s why NIN has collaborated with Japanese experts to produce food supplements for obesity and diabetes patients,” Tuyên said.

NIN also partnered with Japanese firm Ichimaru Pharcos to develop biological material and products for skincare and bone and joint problems treatment, Tuyên added.

Research projects between Japan and NIN experts have focused on planting and processing raw material and manufacturing food supplements from shell ginger, rice, Ashitaba and artichoke plants to prevent nutrition related diseases.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, NCDs-related fatality rate made up 73 per cent of total causes, of which heart disease-caused fatality ranked first with 33 per cent and second was cancer with 18 per cent.

“NCD infection rate increased from 42.6 per cent in 1976 to 76.1 per cent in 2010 while communicable disease rate reduced to 19.8 per cent from 55.5 per cent, said Food Administration of Việt Nam Director Nguyễn Thanh Phong. 

In Việt Nam, overweight and obesity rate also doubled from 3.5 to 6.6 per cent of the population during 2000 to 2005 period. The rate of children under-5 with overweight issues and obesity increased nine times in 10 years, from 2000 to 2010, and reached 6.3 per cent of the total children population in 2013. The situation was mainly due to an unscientific diet and lifestyle. — VNS