Pediatric Health & Nutrition

This article reviewed recent studies describing the human milk microbiome (hMM) and the evidence for its role in infant and maternal health.

This study was to investigate the concentration of cord serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in a birth cohort in Guangzhou, China and determine whether maternal lifestyle factors had any effect on these levels.

α-lactalbumin is a known immunomodulator present in human milk. Supplementation with prebiotics or probiotics has been proposed to modify the composition of microbiota in adults and infants.

Speakers:

• Dr Carine M Lenders (USA)
• Professor Liam O’Mahony (Ireland)
• Professor Ting Fan Leung (Hong Kong)

This systematic review found that effects of early life intervention on length-for-age Z scores (LAZ) or height-for-age Z scores (HAZ) were significantly associated with social emotional scores, but not cognitive, language, or motor development scores.

Well known is the critical roles of choline and DHA in infant brain and eye development.

Growing evidence has suggested a link between gut microbiome and autism-like behaviors.

Cesarean delivery has been known to cause gut microbiota dysbiosis in infants. Recently, a cross-sectional study in China revealed that such disturbance could be partially restored by exclusive breastfeeding.

• Professor Andrew Prentice
  Role of breastfeeding in growth and development: Early influences on later health
• Dr Sophie Leung
  Mapping the local breastfeeding landscape: Insights and challenges

• A summary of the latest science and tips on preventing picky eating behavior in children