PRESS RELEASE Third annual Hydration for Health scientific meeting successfully unites opinion leaders and hydration experts from around the globe

**Key new studies discussed, many linking major public health issues with poor hydration habits **Next generation hydration measurement device unveiled

Paris, France – 6th July, 2011: With momentum now growing around the importance of hydration, a distinguished body of international scientific and medical experts convened in Evian on July 1st for the third annual DANONE-sponsored ‘Hydration for Health’ Scientific meeting. This year’s meeting focused on worldwide growing public health issues related to poor hydration, and the practical steps that can be taken to help people improve their drinking behaviour.

Key new study links poor hydration habits with chronic kidney disease

Dehydration is a causal factor for a variety of medical conditions; in chronic cases it can raise the risk of urinary tract infections and kidney stones.

A recently published study from Dr Strippoli of the University of Sydney identified a positive relationship between low fluid intake and the occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study is a first step towards showing the potential of increased water intake as a new and low cost nutritional means to prevent CKD in the general population.

Many strategies to prevent chronic kidney disease and its progression towards renal failure have been tried previously, but without achieving proven success. Dr Strippoli’s study adds further weight to the body of emerging science suggesting that a number of serious health conditions could often be avoided simply through increasing regular daily water intake.

‘Cantimer’ Hydration Measurement Device introduced

Scientists at the meeting discussed the question of adequate water intake, its relationship with the avoidance of dehydration, and the challenge of identifying non-intrusive ways to measure a person’s hydration status. Practitioners are often limited to a ‘pinch test’ (pinching the back of the hand and seeing if the skin returns to its original position). Whilst convenient, such an approach is limited in terms of accuracy. Delegates at the meeting reviewed a prototype of device which measures accurately saliva osmolarity, a promising potential biomarker of hydration. This device has the potential to be as straightforward as taking a patient’s temperature and is designed to provide an immediate assessment via a saliva sample. Although still in the early stages of scientific validation, this new device could be of major significance to the monitoring and measurement of hydration status as a routine health parameter.

Its potential applications could be broad, although perhaps most significant for athletes and the care of the elderly, who are particularly prone to dehydration.

“This innovation could represent a significant step forward for us in establishing hydration tests as medical routine,” says Dr Christophe Perthuisot, VP R&D, Danone Waters. “We hope this will encourage advisers and practitioners to include a sufficient daily intake of water in their dietary recommendations.”

The device has been developed by Cantimer is a privately-held, development stage company that has patented sensor technology in the field of point-of-care diagnostics and consumer health. Danone Research and Cantimer are associated in a development partnership that brings together a novel, patented technology platform and world-leading expertise in hydration.

For further information about the Hydration for Health Initiative, visit: www.h4hinitiative.com.

For interview opportunities and further information, please contact:

Anna Richardson +44 (0) 20 7300 6159 anna . richardson @ bm .com Burson-Marsteller for Danone