Why nutrition in early life matters?
Task Force Information
Objectives
The Task Force aims at providing scientific evidence to support guidelines for maternal and infant nutrition to ensure life-time optimal health. It also identifies risk factors for obesity and other health consequences at the earliest stages of life.
Task Force Members
Carolien van Loo-Bouwman | Yili Innovation Center Europe | Open Innovation Manager | NL |
Euridice Castaneda Gutierrez – Chair | H&H | Science and Communication Manager | CH |
Susan Ozanne – Co-Chair | University of Cambridge | Professor | UK |
Janna Van Diepen - Vice-Chair | RB Mead Johnson | Principal Scientist | NL |
Marieke Abrahamse-Berkeveld | Danone Nutricia Research | Senior Team Leader Growth & Development | NL |
Patricia Iozzo* | Italian National Research Council | Researcher | IT |
Karen Knipping | Ausnutria | Senior Research Scientist | NL |
Nils Billecke | Cargill | Senior Nutrition Scientist | BE |
Marco Turini | DSM | enior Manager in Nutrition and Health & Wellness | NL |
Elena Oliveros | Abbott Nutrition | Senior Scientist | ES |
Ulla Ramer Mikkelsen | Arla | Senior Research Scientist | DK |
Ching-Yu Chang | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
Contact Information
For more detailed information, please contact Ching-Yu Chang at cchang@ilsieurope.be
Activity Overview
Ongoing
- Early biomarkers for prediction of metabolic health
The Expert Group on early biomarkers for prediction of metabolic health aims to review biomarkers in early life that could be used to predict development of childhood obesity and metabolic health. This prediction may drive knowledge of personalised nutrition.
Start date: May 2021 | End date: Q4 2024
- Carbohydrates in toddlers’ nutrition
The activity aims to collect scientific evidence about digestible and non digestible carbohydrates in relation to health outcomes for toddlers (1-3 years old), taking into consideration complementary food as well as young child formula. The activity is shared with DC Task Force.
Start date: December 2021 | End date: Q4 2024
- Lipid quality in early life nutrition
The Expert Group on Lipid quality in early life nutrition aims to generate an overview of the dietary lipid quality in the first year of life and its relations with health benefits for consumers.
Start date: Q3 2022 | End date: Q4 2024
- Plant-based proteins for infants
The Expert Group on Plant-based proteins for infants aims to evaluate the nutritional quality of plant protein-based infant formula for term-born infants (< 1 years old). The group is organising a physical workshop with three sessions: Source, Processing, and Safety; Nutrition Quality and Health Impact; and Sustainability. A proceeding will be published.
Start: Q4 2023 | End: Q4 2025
In the Pipeline
- Evidence review on gut-brain-axis, early microbiome development and mental health later in life.
- Evidence review on probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics in infant nutrition.
- Evidence review on vegan diet for children.
- Evidence review/gap analysis on countries nutritional requirements for weaning food (1-3 years) / young child formula.
Expert Groups
Early biomarkers for prediction of metabolic health
Background and Objectives
The aim of the activity is to review biomarkers in early life that could be used to predict development of childhood obesity and metabolic health. The activity will focus on invasive and non-invasive, perinatal and postnatal biomarkers. This activity aims to:
- Summarise the current evidence for early life (perinatal and postnatal) biomarkers that are able to predict childhood obesity and related metabolic health.
- Emphasise relevance of combining conventional predictive markers (e.g. early weight gain) with novel applications of metabolomics, epigenetics and microbiota profiling. It will help to more accurately and effectively identify infants at risk to develop obesity.
- Emphasise importance of validity and reliability of identified biomarkers for application of such biomarkers in (daily) practice.
Output
The highlighted (recent) findings in the development of biomarkers for early life prediction of metabolic health could be used to guide risk prediction and stratification. This prediction may drive development and knowledge of personalised (infant) nutrition to reduce the risk of childhood obesity. Researchers should become aware of the urgency to develop and validate new predictive biomarkers that are both easily detectable and responsive to nutritional interventions.
Expert Group Members
Romy Gaillard – Chair | Erasmus University Rotterdam | Professor | NL |
Janna van Diepen – Vice Chair | Reckitt Benckiser/Mead Johnson Nutrition | Senior Scientist | NL |
Marieke Abrahamse-Berkeveld | Danone Nutricia Research | Senior Team Leader Growth & Development | NL |
Sophia Blaauwendraad | Erasmus University Rotterdam | Researcher | NL |
Marco Brandimonte-Hernández | University of Granada | ES | |
Maria Carmen Collado | Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology | Professor | ES |
Eduard Flores | Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology | ES | |
Angel Gil | University of Granada | Professor | ES |
Patricia Iozzo | Italian National Research Council | Researcher | IT |
Arwen Kamphuis | Erasmus University Rotterdam | NL | |
Karen Knipping | Ausnutria | Senior Research Scientist | NL |
Francisco Javier Ruiz-Ojeda | University of Granada | RG Adipocytes and Metabolism group collaborator | ES |
Carolien van Loo-Bouwman | Yili Innovation Center Europe | Open Innovation Manager | NL |
Ching-Yu Chang | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
Lipid quality in early life nutrition
Background and Objectives
The activity aims to generate an overview of the fatty acid (FA) quality composition consumption (by means of from all dietary sources; human milk, infant milk formula and complementary feeding) in the first year of life and to what extent this brings or relates to its relation to health benefits for infants consumers. A particular focus is given on exploring appropriate intake levels of Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) and Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA).
Output
The results will be compiled in a review and published in a peer-reviewed journal. The publication will summarise expert insights and hopefully propose a consensus on the FA profile of the first year of life diet. It will highlight knowledge gaps and outline plans for future research and possibly a basis for new EFSA recommendations.
Expert Group Members
Francesco Visioli - Chair | University of Padua | Human Nutrition Professor | IT |
Nils Billecke - Vice-Chair | Cargill | Senior Nutrition Scientist | BE |
Carlo Agostoni - Scientific Advisor | University of Milan | Professor | IT |
Sebastiano Banni - Scientific Advisor | University of Cagliari | Professor | IT |
Martha Ann Belury - Scientific Advisor | Ohio State University | Department Chair and Professor | US |
Alessandra Mazzocchi | University of Milan | Researcher | IT |
Austin Angelotti | Penn State College of Medicine | Researcher | US |
Giulia Carla Immacolata Spolidoro | University of Milan | Researcher | IT |
Euridice Castaneda Gutierrez | HH | Senior Manager Translational Science | SW |
Vera Bunt | Ausnutria | Nutrition & Health Specialist | NL |
Valentina Decosmi | University of Milan | Researcher | IT |
Marieke Abrahamse | Danone | Senior Team Leader Infant Growth & Development | |
Veronica D'Oria | University of Milan | Researcher | IT |
Carolien Van Loo-Bouwman | Yili Innovation Center | Senior Manager Nutrition & Innovation | NL |
Ching-Yu Chang | ILSI Europe | BE |
Plant-based protein for infant
Background and Objectives
The adoption of vegan diets and the consequent demand for plant-based food and plant-based beverages has increased globally, including those suitable for infants. Proteins from plant-based sources usually have lower protein quality and poor technological characteristics (low solubility and poor heat stability) compared to animal-based proteins. Together with the specific infant nutritional requirements, multiple challenges for the application of plant-based proteins are foreseen.
This activity will identify challenges and considerations about the nutritional quality of plant protein-based infant formula for infants below 1 year by organizing a workshop in Q4 2024.
Output
Proceedings of debate/workshop including all challenges, all considerations, gap analysis and guideline for suitability of plant protein-based infant formula.
Expert Group Members
Kasper Hettinga - Chair | Wageningen University & Research | Professor | NL |
Carolien Van Loo-Bouwman - Vice-Chair | Yili Innovation Center | Senior Manager Nutrition & Innovation | NL |
Didier Dupont - Scientific Advisor | INRAE | Research Director | FR |
Sascha Verbruggen | Erasmus Medical Center | Pediatric Intensivist | NL |
Susan Ozanne | University of Cambridge | Professor | UK |
Elena Oliveros | Abbott | Senior Scientist | ES |
Kelly Mulder | Danone Nutricia Research | Senior Scientist | NL |
Ching-Yu Chang | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
Publications
A to Z
Infant fat mass and later child and adolescent health outcomes: a systematic review
Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2023
Obesity and excess adiposity are leading causes of metabolic and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Early identification of individuals at risk is key for preventive strategies. We examined the relationship between infant body composition (0–2 years of age) and later (>2 years) health outcomes using a systematic review.
Is there Evidence for Bacterial Transfer via the Placenta and any Role in the Colonization of the Infant Gut? – a Systematic Review
2020
Critical Reviews in Microbiology 2020. Commissioned by the Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health Task Force.
Postnatal Growth in Preterm Infants and Later Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review
2015
Acta Paediatrica. 2015;104(10):974-986. Commissioned by the Metabolic Imprinting Task Force.
Systematic Review indicates Postnatal growth in term infants born small for gestational age is associated with later neurocognitive and metabolic outcomes
2017
Acta Paediatrica. 2017;106:1230-1238. Commissioned by the Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health Task Force.
Systematic Review on N-3 and N-6 PUFA Intake in European Countries in Light of the Current Recommendations – Focus on Specific Population Groups
2017
Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 2017;70:39-50. Commissioned by the Nutrient Intake Optimisation and Early Nutrition and Long Term Health Task Forces.
Multimedia
Completed Expert Groups
Overview of completed activities since 2021
- Joint nutrition cluster activity on ‘mechanistic insights into the gut-brain axis' in collaboration with Health Benefit Assessment of Foods; Nutrition, Immunity & Inflammation; Nutrition & Brain Health; Prebiotics and Probiotics Task Forces
- Gestational Diabetes and Diet
- Early Bacterial Colonization and Potential Implications Later in Life
- n-3 and n-6 PUFA Intakes, Ratios and Health Effects
- Early Growth Velocity and Risk of Metabolic Disorders Later in Life
- Body Composition in Early Life and Long-Term Health