Danone Research & Innovation

When standard treatments fall short, where does science look next? In our latest newsletter, we take a closer look at ketogenic diet therapy and its long‑established role in supporting people living with drug‑resistant epilepsy — from seizure management to emerging applications in intensive care. Curious to understand how evidence, nutrition, and clinical practice intersect in epilepsy care? 👉 Explore the newsletter to dive into the science, including additional references and a link to the full published review, with expert insights from Denise Hofman. #EpilepsyAwareness #InternationalEpilepsyDay #EvidenceBasedScience #DrugResistantEpilepsy #KetogenicDiet #NutritionScience #PatientSupport

“We often think of aging as something that happens later in life. But a lot of what shapes healthy aging is already happening in adulthood — quietly, every day, in our biology.” — Christophe Lay, Danone Research & Innovation   That perspective is exactly why we’re excited to take part in the Geromedicine: Unlock Healthy Longevity 2026, taking place on 26–27 February 2026 at National University of Singapore. At Danone R&I, we see longevity not as a destination, but as a journey — influenced by everyday factors like nutrition, stress, sleep, exercise, and the resilience of the gut microbiome. In adulthood, when the microbiome reaches its greatest diversity and stability, these factors play a defining role in long‑term health.   We’re pleased to see Christophe Lay speaking at the forum with his session, “Microbiome in Adulthood: A Key to Extended Healthspan.” His talk will examine how the adult gut microbiome contributes to shape the biology of aging, and how everyday factors — ranging from nutrition and medications to stress, sleep, and physical activity — influence its role in promoting healthy ageing.   Throughout the event, our wider team Agathe Foussat, Ming-Chien Huang, Aldwin Vriesema, Jill Wong, and Amilia Sng will also be actively involved. They will be conducting on‑site research and welcoming participants at the booth, bringing complementary perspectives across microbiome science, nutrition, digital technologies, and adult health to help design meaningful, evidence‑based solutions.    We’re also looking forward to exchanging with leaders such as Professor Andrea B. Maier (https://lnkd.in/eB7fWvVy), whose work continues to shape science‑backed approaches to longevity and digital health.   Grateful to NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity for creating a space where ideas evolve, perspectives meet — and the future of healthier aging is shaped together.   #Longevity #HealthyAging #Microbiome #NutritionScience #DanoneR&I #Partnership

Thanks for the 75k people who are part of our science journey! We are researchers, healthcare professionals, engineers, and innovation leaders from around the world, learning, sharing ideas, and shaping the future of nutrition together. Thank you for being part of our discussions, for reading our papers, and for asking questions that help drive positive change. This is what makes this space relevant and meaningful. Every voice counts. Let’s keep exploring science together. #DanoneRnI #Science #Innovation #HealthAndNutrition

For a select few publications, relevance endures as recency fades. Here’s your guided shortcut to a few of the stories that still deserve your curiosity. In this Weight Loss & Metabolic Health refresher, we unpack some of the science behind metabolic disorders and the nutritional strategies reshaping the landscape of patient care. Have you ever wondered what happens when the gold standard for infant nutrition suddenly demands a rulebook to keep an infant healthy and safe? And how can the ketogenic diet, a simple dietary intervention, really outsmart seizures where traditional medicines cannot?     Scroll through to find the answers within a series of digestible insights that might just shift how you think about nutrition, metabolism, and the science that links them. 

Sometimes innovation looks like a finished product.    More often, it looks like this: listening, testing, refining — and starting again.    This glimpse into our work is a reminder of how research and insight come together at @Danone Research & Innovation, long before impact becomes visible. Science moves forward through people, curiosity, and care — always with people's everyday lives in mind.    Proud to see our R&I teams and experts, including E. Whitney Evans PhD, RD, and the teams around her, doing the quiet work behind the scenes that makes progress possible.    #DanoneResearch #ScienceInAction #BehindInnovation

Can yogurt help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes?   Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects nearly 14% of adults worldwide—and the number keeps rising. As public health authorities, researchers, and the food sector look for accessible ways to reduce risk, one food is stepping into the spotlight: yogurt.   In 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a qualified health claim stating that: “Eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (3 servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes according to limited scientific evidence.”   This decision followed a rigorous review of the evidence, drawing conclusions from 28 observational studies involving more than 800,000 individuals. Since then, the announcement has sparked momentum across public health, retail, and the food industry.   According to Miguel Freitas, Ph.D., VP of Nutrition & Scientific Affairs at Danone North America: "With many Americans still falling short of national dairy intake guidelines, this claim opens the door to meaningful conversations around diet, prevention, and metabolic health. And while regulatory frameworks differ globally, the FDA’s move could well catalyze similar discussions elsewhere—perhaps even paving the way for large-scale randomized trials to further explore yogurt’s role in diabetes risk reduction".   🧠 Food for thought...and for action!    To learn more about the publication: https://lnkd.in/exJivWWR   For the latest U.S Dietary guidelines access: https://realfood.gov/ #T2D #Diabetes #Yogurt #PublicHealth #Danone #Research #Innovation

Post-holiday stress creeping in? Before you blame deadlines, check your hydration habits. This refresher on Everyday Nutrition & Hydration explores why skipping water can prime your stress response by a staggering amount—and why Dry January might be the perfect time to rethink what’s in your glass. Inside, we unpack how hydration habits influence stress signaling, why plant‑dominant proteins are shaping the new frontier in medical nutrition, and what “eco‑friendly” packaging needs to prove to truly be deemed sustainable. Curious? Dive in and see what the science says.

As we step into 2026, we’re looking back at the science that shaped December. In the final 2025 edition of Stay Tuned for Science, we explore: 🌱 How soil health influences nutrition and gut health 🤝 Why partnerships are the key to accelerating innovation 🤱🏻 The link between early-life nutrition and obesity 🔄 How targeted nutrition can support performance, recovery, and child growth ⬇️ Dive into the newsletter, share it with a fellow curious mind, and subscribe to stay tuned as we move forward into a new year of discoveries! #DanoneRnI #Newsletter

“What makes a PhD with Danone different is the focus on real-life impact. Your research doesn’t stay on paper, it becomes part of something global. It contributes to solutions that transform health and nutrition for all.” That's Roos Verstegen, PhD in Pharmacology, Utrecht University – one of the 20+ researchers who have completed their doctoral journey with us this year, in close collaboration with world-leading universities. 🎓 From nutrition to immune resilience, gut health to pregnancy, these early-career scientists have been engines of innovation and scientific progress. 🧪️ Prof. Johan Garssen, Chief Scientific Advisor at Danone Research & Innovation, who has mentored 76 PhD students over the past 25 years, reflects: “A major advantage of having PhD students in our organization is that they can work for four years on a single topic with exceptional focus. During their defense, their work is evaluated through scientific debate with external experts, which establishes true scientific credibility.” 👩🔬 These achievements are more than milestones – they're part of a strong foundation for tomorrow’s innovations. And they show how working together across sectors can help bring health through nutrition to as many people as possible. They're also a powerful reminder that science thrives when we invest in the next generation.  🍽️ Here’s to the next generation of scientists, and to the ecosystem that makes it possible! Utrecht University FutureFood Infection & Immunity Research UMC Utrecht UMC Utrecht Maastricht University Wageningen University & Research University of Groningen UMCG UMCG research Université Paris-Saclay Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam #DanoneRI #PhD #NutritionScience #Innovation #Collaboration #GutHealth #HealthyAging

Early-life nutrition does more than fuel growth; it can shape lifelong health. This special edition revisits some of our most impactful findings on infant and toddler nutrition, from gut microbiota development to unraveling their dynamic interactions with carbohydrates and iron in healthy growth. Explore evidence-based strategies that empower caregivers and health professionals to support resilience during the most formative years. Whether you’re refreshing your knowledge or diving in for the first time, these insights reveal the science bridging practical solutions to better outcomes in children’s growth!