NNI BITES, BIG LEARNINGS

In this episode of Milestones in Maternal Nutrition, Professor Andrew Prentice speaks with Professor Parul Christian about the drivers and lifelong consequences of low birth weight. Professor Christian explains how nutritional factors such as maternal undernutrition, inadequate gestational weight gain, anemia, and multiple micronutrient deficiencies contribute to preterm birth and fetal growth restriction, which are major underlying causes of low birth weight. The discussion highlights the growing shift from focusing on single nutrients to improving overall maternal nutrition through balanced energy, protein and multiple micronutrient supplementation. Together, they explore how low birth weight increases the risk of poor growth, stunting, infection, and developmental challenges throughout childhood and later life, underscoring the importance of maternal nutrition across the first 1,000 days.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this episode of Milestones in Maternal Nutrition, Professor Andrew Prentice with Professor Kathryn Dewey talks about the role of protein-energy supplementation during pregnancy and its potential to improve birth outcomes among nutritionally vulnerable populations. Professor Dewey explains how maternal undernutrition contributes to low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age birth and preterm delivery. This discussion explores the scientific evidence behind balanced energy-protein (BEP) supplementation, including historical trials, evolving WHO recommendations and the complexities surrounding optimal protein composition and maternal metabolic health. They also explored emerging approaches such as small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQLNS), targeted nutritional strategies, and the practical challenges of implementing maternal supplementation programs at scale in low-resource settings.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this episode of Milestones in Maternal Nutrition, Professor Andrew Prentice speaks with Professor Helene McNulty about the landmark evidence linking periconceptional folic acid supplementation to the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). Professor McNulty traces the science from early observational findings to the pivotal 1991 MRC trial demonstrating a 72% protective effect against NTD recurrence, and a subsequent Hungarian trial showing 100% protection against first occurrence. The discussion examines why dietary folate alone is insufficient, how mandatory fortification programmes in the US and Canada have safely reduced NTD prevalence over three decades, and why the standard 400 microgram dose remains appropriate for most women — with higher doses reserved only for those at established clinical risk.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this episode of Milestones in Maternal Nutrition, Dr. Carla Cerami speaks with Professor Andrew Prentice about how a mother's diet and nutritional status around the time of conception can leave a lasting imprint on her baby's biology — shaping health outcomes that persist across an entire lifetime. Professor Prentice explains how key nutrients, particularly B vitamins and folate, fuel the epigenetic processes that regulate how a baby's genes are expressed during the earliest and most critical days of embryonic development. The discussion draws on how his team’s research in rural Gambia revealed that seasonal differences in maternal diet can measurably alter epigenetic marks in the baby's DNA — with potential links to obesity, thyroid function, and neonatal diabetes. Together, they reflect on what these discoveries mean for the future of pre-conceptional nutrition guidance, and why optimizing a mother's diet before pregnancy may be just as critical as care during it.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this new series of NNI Bites, Big Learnings, we are featuring episodes covering the NNI & WNSC Workshop 103. In this episode, Dr. Yvan Vandenplas speaks with Professor Nadja Haiden about supporting the nutritional needs of preterm infants after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Professor Haiden emphasizes that post-discharge nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and that success depends on individualized monitoring, parental support, and timely interventions — with the goal of achieving proportional catch-up growth while preserving the benefits of human milk feeding. She also highlights the importance of proactive micronutrient supplementation, particularly vitamin D and iron, and notes that complementary feeding timing in preterm infants should be guided by corrected age and neuromotor developmental readiness rather than chronological age alone.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this new series of NNI Bites, Big Learnings, we are featuring episodes covering the NNI & WNSC Workshop 103. In this episode, Professor Raanan Shamir speaks with Professor Patrick Tounian about the role of young child formula in meeting the nutritional needs of toddlers beyond infancy. Professor Tounian explains that without young child formula, it is remarkably difficult for toddlers to meet their daily iron requirements through diet alone, and that untreated iron deficiency in early life can lead to irreversible neurological damage and lifelong cognitive impairment. He recommends young child formula until children are able to consume adequate amounts of meat — typically not before three to six years of age — and also highlights the importance of plant oils and fatty fish in meeting essential fatty acid and DHA needs.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this new series of NNI Bites, Big Learnings, we are featuring episodes covering the NNI & WNSC Workshop 103. In this episode, Professor Raanan Shamir speaks with Professor Ciarán Forde about how children learn to eat during the first two years of life. Professor Ford explains that the ability to bite, chew, and swallow is entirely learned — not innate — and that early, progressive texture exposure is essential not only for developing feeding skills and dietary preferences, but also for healthy oral anatomical development. He also draws on data from the GUSTO cohort to show that obesogenic eating styles — such as faster eating rates and eating in the absence of hunger — emerge early and consistently track with excess adiposity over time.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this episode of NNI Bites, Big Learnings, we are covering the NNI & WNSC Workshop 103 series. In the first episode, Dr. Yvan Vandenplas interviews Professor Raanan Shamir about the importance of complementary feeding in early childhood. Professor Shamir emphasizes that timing is critical — with a four-to-six-month window recommended by most societies — and that both early and late introduction carry distinct risks, including non-communicable diseases, food allergy, and nutritional inadequacy. He further highlights that healthy complementary feeding goes beyond nutrition, influencing microbiome composition and allergy prevention, and should consist of a diverse, nutrient-dense diet rich in fiber, iron, zinc, and omega-3, and low in sugar, salt, and ultra-processed products.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this episode of Milestones in Pediatric Nutrition, Professor Andrew Prentice interviews Professor Mark Manary from Washington University and Adeline Lescanne, CEO of Nutriset, about ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) for severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Professor Manary describes how hospital-based treatment historically achieved only 45% recovery rates, prompting exploration of home-based alternatives. The RUTF concept, inspired by low-moisture foods like chocolate spread and halva, emerged through collaboration between André Briend and Michel Lescanne. Initial clinical trials in 2001 demonstrated dramatic improvements, achieving 90% recovery rates compared to 45% with traditional hospital care. The low water content prevents bacterial growth, enabling safe community-based treatment. Nutriset developed the Plumpy Field network, establishing local manufacturing facilities across 12-13 countries including Haiti, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and India, maintaining rigorous quality control from raw material sourcing through finished product testing. The company has treated over 65 million malnourished children. The episode highlights how RUTF has become a standard of care for community-based SAM management and underscores the importance of sustained partnerships and investment to ensure continued access for children who need treatment.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this episode of Milestones in Pediatric Nutrition, Professor Andrew Prentice interviews Professor Hania Szajewska from the Medical University of Warsaw about probiotics and prebiotics in pediatric nutrition. Professor Szajewska emphasizes the importance of evidence-based definitions from the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), requiring documented health benefits in randomized controlled trials before products can be classified as probiotics or prebiotics. The discussion highlights critical factors influencing infant gut microbiota development, including mode of delivery, feeding method, and antibiotic exposure, with breastfeeding providing human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that selectively promote bifidobacteria. Professor Szajewska reviews current evidence from ESPGHAN guidelines, noting that while biotic-supplemented formulas demonstrate safety and adequate growth support, clinical benefit evidence remains limited and strain-specific. She discusses targeted probiotic applications, including necrotizing enterocolitis prevention and acute gastroenteritis management, while acknowledging the need for identifying populations most likely to benefit from these interventions.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this episode of Milestones in Pediatric Nutrition, Professor Andrew Prentice speaks with Professor Josef Neu from the University of Florida about advances in preterm infant nutrition. Professor Neu traces the field's evolution from the late 1800s, when incubators adapted from poultry technology reduced mortality by half, through critical developments including infection control, mechanical ventilation, and surfactant therapy. The discussion highlights the unique nutritional demands of premature infants, requiring approximately 120 calories per kilogram daily and 3-4 grams of protein per kilogram to support rapid growth and neurodevelopment. Professor Neu addresses historical controversies, including delayed enteral feeding practices, and emphasizes the importance of early gastrointestinal tract stimulation for mucosal immunity and barrier function. Current best practices favor mother's own milk with fortification when necessary, supported by evidence-based guidelines from pediatric societies. Professor Neu also discusses precision nutrition approaches utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning clustering, and digital twin technologies to tailor strategies by gestational age, sex, and early-life exposures.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute

In this episode of Milestones in Pediatric Nutrition, Professor Andrew Prentice speaks with Professor Stanley Zlotkin from the University of Toronto about the development and global impact of sprinkles and multiple micronutrient powders (MNPs). Professor Zlotkin describes how his formative experience in Nigeria inspired his commitment to addressing childhood malnutrition. Recognizing poor compliance with traditional iron drops, Professor Zlotkin developed microencapsulated ferrous fumarate that could be sprinkled onto home-prepared complementary foods without affecting taste, color, or texture. The first efficacy trial in Ghana demonstrated effectiveness comparable to iron drops, supporting subsequent expansion to a formulation containing 17 essential vitamins and minerals. The intervention’s low cost, strong cost-effectiveness, and ease of use enabled large-scale implementation, with UNICEF now procuring millions of doses annually for use across low- and middle-income countries. Endorsed by WHO and included in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children, MNPs are now recognized as a key intervention for the prevention of childhood micronutrient deficiencies.For Healthcare Professionals OnlyNestlé Nutrition Institute