There is already an extensive body of literature from studies that have tested different combinations of interventions, including dietary, behavioral, educational, and social components. Although the results from these trials can be not convincing, one thing is clear: addressing any factor (or a limited number of factors) in isolation is not enough.
The aim of the 93rd Nestlé Nutrition Institute Workshop, which took place in India in March 29th–31st, 2019, was to map the challenges within the global landscape of childhood nutrition. The opening session led by Prof. Lynnette M. Neufeld outlined the key barriers faced in pediatric nutrition, from both the global and the local perspectives. Understanding the specific nutrition deficits of a particular population is a first step in addressing the problem. In addition, we must also understand local feeding practices, in order to identify suitable interventions that can strike a balance between effectiveness and safety. The second session chaired by Prof. Kim F. Michaelsen focused on the importance of milk in child growth and its role at different developmental stages during childhood. It also called attention to the key points to be aware of when feeding children a vegan diet and how to use plan protein combinations as a cost-effective alternative to cow’s milk proteins for the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition.
The final session designed by Prof. Andrew M. Prentice took a step broader in order to identify the environmental influences of nutrition. Infections from unhygienic surroundings combined with intergenerational nutritional deficits are major forces that can shape the epigenome and the infant gut microbiome. Together, these aspects of the global landscape of nutrition provide a roadmap toward combating nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable pediatric population around the world.
On behalf of the Nestle Nutrition Institute, I would like to thank the 3 Chairs of the workshop Lynnette M. Neufeld, Kim F. Michaelsen, and Andrew M. Prentice for putting the scientific program together.
We also would like to thank all speakers and scientific experts in the audience, who have contributed to the workshop content and scientific discussions.
Dr. Natalia Wagemans, MD
Global Head
Nestle Nutrition Institute, Switzerland
Chairpersons & Speakers
Prof. Lindsay H. Allen, PhD
USDA ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center
430 W. Health Sciences Drive
Davis, CA 95616-5270
USA
E-Mail [email protected]
Dr. Margaret E. Bentley, PhD
Health & Infectious Diseases
130 Rosenau, CB 7400
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
USA
E-Mail [email protected]
Dr. Fernanda Grande, PhD
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
108 Almeida Torres St.
Sao Paulo-SP, 01530-010
Brazil
E-Mail [email protected]
Prof. Jean H. Humphrey, SCD
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Wolfe St. Building 2041
615 N Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21205
USA
E-Mail [email protected]
Mark Manary, MD
Department of Pediatrics
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
One Children’s Place
St. Louis, MO 63110
USA
E-Mail [email protected]
Prof. Kim F. Michaelsen
University of Copenhagen
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports
Paediatric and International Nutrition
Rolighedsvej 26
DK-1958 Frederiksberg C
Denmark
E-Mail [email protected]
Dr. Med. Pascal Müller
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Switzerland
Claudiusstrasse 6
CH-9006 St. Gallen
Switzerland
E-Mail [email protected]
Prof. Lynnette M. Neufeld
Director, Knowledge Leadership, Global
Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Rue Varembé 7
CH-1202 Geneva
Switzerland
E-Mail [email protected]
Dr. Sant-Rayn Pasricha
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
1G Royal Parade
Parkville 3052
Australia
E-Mail [email protected]
Prof. Andrew M. Prentice
Head of Nutrition Theme
MRC
