A proper nutrition regime, including breastfeedingimmediately after birth, will maintain brain development during thefirst three years of life, according to local and international leadingpediatric nutrition experts.
Pedro Alarcon, medical director at US-based Abbott Nutrition Chicago,said: “Most baby-formula milk is made based on breast-milk compositionto help users to match the performance of breast-fed infants. However,breast milk still has many bioactive components that are not found informula milk.”
These special bioactive components include cytokines andanti-inflammatory ingredients, protective and growth factors, hormones,digestive enzymes and transporters, he said.
Pedro spoke at an international conference that was held recently onseparate days in Hanoi and HCM City , with the participation of morethan 1,000 pediatricians from hospitals and clinics across the country.
Prof. Alan Lucas, director of the Pediatric Nutrition Research Centreof the London-based Pediatrics Health Institute, also emphasised therole of the breast milk and early nutrition on growth and development.
Breastfeeding helps prevent diseases, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular.
Experts at the event said that the early years of life were a “golden chance” for brain development.
By age three, a child’s brain has grown to about 80 percent of adultsize. By age four, the brain has developed half of its cognitivepotential.
An early nutrition regimen for infants helps babies grow andcontributes to the development of their brains, bones and immunesystem.
Results of scientific research show that nutrition in the early yearsof life can have a profound effect on a child’s ability to learn anddevelop.
Lucas spoke about “nutrition programming,” which includes theapplication of a proper nutrition regimen, such as breastfeedingimmediately after birth.
Prof and Dr Hoang Trong Kim, vice chairman of the Vietnam PediatricsAssociation (VNPA), said that in the early years of life children mustbe provided with enough essential optimal nutrients to support thisstage.
Lucas also dealt with some important changes in pediatric nutrition research in recent years.
Formerly, researchers have focused on how to meet nutritional needs butnow pay attention to nutrition’s long-term efects on human health.
Lucas said a common misconception was the promotion of early and rapid growth in the early years of life.
Such growth would unfavourably influence health in the future, he said.
Nutrition formula research should be based on credible scientificevidence to ensure safety and effectiveness in the interim as well aslong term, according to Pedro.
The symposia were jointly organised by the Vietnam PediatricsAssociation, Abbott Laboratories SA, and doctors from the UK , the USand Vietnam./.
Pedro Alarcon, medical director at US-based Abbott Nutrition Chicago,said: “Most baby-formula milk is made based on breast-milk compositionto help users to match the performance of breast-fed infants. However,breast milk still has many bioactive components that are not found informula milk.”
These special bioactive components include cytokines andanti-inflammatory ingredients, protective and growth factors, hormones,digestive enzymes and transporters, he said.
Pedro spoke at an international conference that was held recently onseparate days in Hanoi and HCM City , with the participation of morethan 1,000 pediatricians from hospitals and clinics across the country.
Prof. Alan Lucas, director of the Pediatric Nutrition Research Centreof the London-based Pediatrics Health Institute, also emphasised therole of the breast milk and early nutrition on growth and development.
Breastfeeding helps prevent diseases, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular.
Experts at the event said that the early years of life were a “golden chance” for brain development.
By age three, a child’s brain has grown to about 80 percent of adultsize. By age four, the brain has developed half of its cognitivepotential.
An early nutrition regimen for infants helps babies grow andcontributes to the development of their brains, bones and immunesystem.
Results of scientific research show that nutrition in the early yearsof life can have a profound effect on a child’s ability to learn anddevelop.
Lucas spoke about “nutrition programming,” which includes theapplication of a proper nutrition regimen, such as breastfeedingimmediately after birth.
Prof and Dr Hoang Trong Kim, vice chairman of the Vietnam PediatricsAssociation (VNPA), said that in the early years of life children mustbe provided with enough essential optimal nutrients to support thisstage.
Lucas also dealt with some important changes in pediatric nutrition research in recent years.
Formerly, researchers have focused on how to meet nutritional needs butnow pay attention to nutrition’s long-term efects on human health.
Lucas said a common misconception was the promotion of early and rapid growth in the early years of life.
Such growth would unfavourably influence health in the future, he said.
Nutrition formula research should be based on credible scientificevidence to ensure safety and effectiveness in the interim as well aslong term, according to Pedro.
The symposia were jointly organised by the Vietnam PediatricsAssociation, Abbott Laboratories SA, and doctors from the UK , the USand Vietnam./.
