Protein plays a vital role in growth and development and is able to 'program' healthy growth by influencing gene methylation for positive long-term health outcomes. The understanding of these mechanisms is critical to support and improve the health of future generations in both the short and long term.The first part of this book reviews the role of hydrolyzed proteins in infant feeding and the evidence-based benefits of their use in non-breastfed infants at risk of allergy and in infants with functional gastrointestinal disorders. The second part focuses on human milk and its potential alternatives in the feeding of healthy term infants. The final section is dedicated to preterm infants, their nutrition needs, and physiological capacities to ingest adequate amounts of protein for appropriate growth and development. Presenting the latest scientific findings on protein in early nutrition, this publication provides essential reading for pediatricians and researchers alike.

Protein plays a vital role in growth and development and is able to 'program' healthy growth by influencing gene methylation for positive long-term health outcomes. The understanding of these mechanisms is critical to support and improve the health of future generations in both the short and long term.The first part of this book reviews the role of hydrolyzed proteins in infant feeding and the evidence-based benefits of their use in non-breastfed infants at risk of allergy and in infants with functional gastrointestinal disorders. The second part focuses on human milk and its potential alternatives in the feeding of healthy term infants. The final section is dedicated to preterm infants, their nutrition needs, and physiological capacities to ingest adequate amounts of protein for appropriate growth and development. Presenting the latest scientific findings on protein in early nutrition, this publication provides essential reading for pediatricians and researchers alike.

Early nutrition is critical to the health and development of infants as nutritional care may influence disease prognosis, clinical course, hospitalisation and propensity for disease in adulthood. 'Fast Facts: Infant Nutrition' is a practical, evidence-based guide for general physicians, nurses, health visitors and all healthcare professionals dealing with infants and their parents. The authors, both experts of international standing, offer sound management advice and protocols in a clear and accessible way supported by numerous illustrations and tables. • Covers the correct nutrition of healthy infants and the nutritional management of disease • Includes health and safety aspects of infant nutrition • Offers a ground-breaking, practical approach to the management of feeding problems • Reviews the emerging results of trials designed to explore the effects of early nutrition on long-term health and development Contents: • Physiology • Nutritional requirements • Growth • Breastfeeding • Infant formulas and other milks • Other fluids in infant feeding • Transition to solid foods • Food safety and general health issues • A practical approach to feeding problems • Future trends.

Few people doubt that the mother's milk provides the best food for the full-terrn infant during the first few months of life, when the digestive, absorptive and excretory systems are relatively immature. The develop ment of the digestive enzymes is detailed in Chapter 4. The significance of this immaturity first emerged as a consequence of the pioneering work of Professor Robert McCance and Dr Elsie Widdowson in human nutrition, when they studied the electrolyte and nitrogen excretion of babies and young animals. To quote Professor McCance, 'Inefficient though the kidneys were by adult standards, they were capable ofmaintaining homeo stasis, provided the infant and animals were growing while being fed on food of exactly the right composition - that is, the milk of the mother. ' (Ashwell, 1993). One should not forget that although the mother protects the developing baby against much nutritional abuse, the baby may be still be affected by matemal nutrition, and this is discussed in Chapter 2. The superior qualities of breast milk are still recognized, and research continues to discover yet more factors in breast milk significant to the health of the baby for possible inclusion in formulas. The immature stage of development ofthe baby means that while enough nutrients for optimal growth of all tissues are required, excessive quantities may cause intoxica tion. Tight specifications are essential, since unlike the adult the newbom depends on a single food.

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In this volume, world-renowned specialists review the latest scientific information and recommendations for protein and energy requirements of infants and children. New data obtained with the latest techniques show significantly lower requirements for both energy and protein than previously thought. This will have far-reaching implications for nutrition and health, not only during infancy and childhood, but also for long-term health outcomes, such as obesity and related disorders. Indeed for the latest generation of some infant formulas, many of the new nutrition concepts presented in this volume (especially those concerning protein level and quality) have already been translated into clinically tested products that are coming ever closer to the "gold standard" human milk, not only in terms of composition, but also of outcome. The important public health implications of the information reviewed in this volume provide essential reading for pediatricians, clinical investigators and health workers engaged in the prevention of nutrition-related disorders.