Nutrition Publications

Specific partially hydrolysed whey-based infant formulas (pHF-W) have been shown to decrease the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants. Historically, AD has been associated primarily with milk allergy; however, defective skin barrier function can be a primary cause of AD.

Human clinical trials have shown that a specific partially hydrolyzed 100% whey-based infant formula (pHF-W) reduces AD risk in the first yeast of life. Meta-analyses with a specific pHF-W (pHF-W1) confirm a protective effect while other meta-analyses pooling different pHF-W show conflicting results.

Infants born very preterm or with a very low birth weight have a high risk of malnutrition, poor growth and poor health outcomes. Nutritional support is key for this infants, considering suboptimal nutrition of preterm infants has been associated with severe metabolic disturbances, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, osteopenia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity and poor neurodevelopment.

Different nutrition components, such as breastmilk and introduction of complementary feeding, are important to drive an age appropriate microbiome maturation in the first year of life. Today, an age appropriate gut microbiome maturation is generally acknowledged to be important and observations indicate that an accelerated microbiome maturation during the first months or a delayed maturation after 6 months of age affects long term immune health of a child. A healthy diet for young children will have not only a positive impact on children’s gut microbiota but also on the child’s immune system.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies and this number is rising.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies and this number is rising.

This is the first study to evaluate infants with moderate to severe Cow’s Milk protein Allergy (CMPA) fed an Amino Acid based formula (AAF) supplemented with two HMO. The infants achieved normal growth, with some catch-up growth. Apart from a small number of non-serious gastrointestinal adverse events, the formula was tolerated well and had an excellent safety profile.

Swallowing is a complex process. Dysphagia for liquids can result in aspiration where the liquid enters the airway and lungs. In a large clinical trials, increasing bolus viscosity (from thin liquid to nectar-thick and spoon-thick) improved the safety of swallow compared with thin liquid, without increasing residue in dysphagia patients for xanthan-based thickeners.

The aim of this symposium was to explore the role of dietary therapies in the management of Crohn’s Disease in children.

Children living with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have a better prognosis, longer life expectancy and better quality of life than ever before.

HMOs are complex carbohydrates found in breast milk1 which are utilized by certain strains of bacteria such as bifidobacteria and allows their proliferation.

Current evidence suggests that the structure of an HMO determines its function; in other words, not all HMOs do the same. Various studies have shown that specific HMOs impact immune, gut and brain health.

The first year of life is a key phase in the development of the microbiome, with breastfeeding having the biggest influence in shaping the gut microbiome in early childhood.

Probiotics are live microorganisms, which when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health effect on the host. One of the most well-researched probiotic stain is Bifidobacterium lactis, a probiotic bacterium found in the human gut, supported by strong clinical data in infants demonstrating its effects on gut colonisation, immune support, diarrhoea, and necrotising enterocolitis.

The gut microbiome is the totality of microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi – and their collective genetic material present in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

At the 90th Nestlé Nutrition Institute (NNI) Workshop on “Human Milk: Composition, Clinical Benefits and Future Opportunities, Professor Jose Saavedra* from NNI interviewed Professor Alan Lucas, Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Nutrition and Founder of the Child Nutrition Research Centre at the Institute of Child Health in London.

The infant gut microbiome is a dynamic ecosystem that undergoes changes from birth until two to three years of age, followed by a gradual evolution towards an adult microbiome in later childhood. The early life microbiome trajectory is influenced by many factors with nutrition playing a crucial role. Dysbiosis in the first years of life is related to lifelong health consequences. Human milk oligosaccharides and probiotics have the potential to modulate the gut microbiome with consequent positive impact on reducing the risk of developing certain diseases.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) revised its 2009 Opinion on the appropriate age for introduction of complementary feeding of infants. This age has been evaluated considering the effects on health outcomes, nutritional aspects and infant development, and depends on the individual’s characteristics and development.

Metabolic imbalances during pregnancy, such as GDM, might result in epigenetic changes which affect the offspring and might predispose to noncommunicable diseases later in life.

Infant feeding is a large component of parenting that encompasses the social, cultural, and economic structure of a parent’s life. There are universal challenges for parents, no matter where in the world they are raising their children. Health Care Professionals are the preferred source on parenting advice. Their role in education and support is key to empower parents to adopt recommended infant feeding.