DSM Nutritional Products hosted lectures by three scientists alongside the 9th Developmental Origins of Health and Disease World Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.
They outlined micronutrient requirements necessary during the first 1,000 days of an infant’s development, this period being the time between the start of pregnancy and the child’s second birthday.
Professor Keith West, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, highlighted that the quality of nutrition in the first 1,000 days can greatly impact a child’s ability to grow and learn.
Research indicates that children with adequate nutrition are 10 times more likely to avoid life-threatening childhood diseases.
In the long-term, these children are also more likely to have healthier families of their own, be more productive, and incur lower healthcare costs.
“Before birth, the fetus gets its nutrients from its mother’s diet. Therefore healthcare professionals strongly advise to guarantee sufficient LCPUFA [long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids] levels, if needed through supplementation,” said Henkjan Verkade, Professor of Pediatrics at the University Medical Center, Groningen, Netherlands, at his lecture.
“After birth, the best way to optimize a child’s LCPUFA is through breast milk and making sure that the lactating mother has adequate LCPUFA intake via diet or supplements.”
Low birth weight is generally associated with poor kidney development and an increased risk of hypertension, which is a main risk factor of cardiovascular disease later in life, said Professor Weiguo Zhang, director of nutrition science & advocacy of DSM Nutritional Products, human nutrition and health, Greater China.
“Birth weight and preterm birth are impacted by environmental and genetic factors,” he said.
“However, having an adequate maternal status of micronutrients and docosahexaenoic acid can help decrease the risk of prematurity and increase birth weight.”
Studies demonstrate that there is still widespread micronutrient deficiency in pregnant women in Southeast Asia especially in the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, in minerals such as iron and zinc and in omega-3s.
Maternal micronutrient supplementation leads to healthier gestation with extended gestational age, reduced preterm birth and low birth weight.
These findings support multi-micronutrient use as a standard of care during pregnancy.
“Malnutrition is still a prime cause of death and illness of young children across the world. Food fortification and dietary supplements are an effective and safe source of micronutrients to fill the maternal nutritional gap, leading to healthier infants,” says Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior VP, nutrition science & advocacy at DSM and Professor for Healthy Ageing at Groningen University.
“Where healthy nutrition is not available, the use of food fortification and dietary supplements is beneficial.” “Our mission is to help continue educating women of child bearing age and health care professionals about the benefits of fortified foods and inform food manufacturers about the opportunities for fortifying the diet.”
