The Changing Landscape of Pediatric Nutrition: Latest Trends and Future Directions

This groundbreaking book encapsulates fresh insights from the 99th Nestlé Nutrition Institute Workshop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February 2023, where experts discussed the changes in the nutrition landscape brought about by the challenging times of the pandemia and globalization, including the future trajectories of child nutrition. This book delves into the profound impact of early nutrition on lifelong health and explores the intricate mechanisms of nutrition programming and the important role of human milk. It addresses the critical interplay between nutrition and epigenetic modifications, how this shapes gene expression and long-term health outcomes and emphasizes the importance of the microbiome and its modulators such as HMOs and how they support the development of the immune system in early life. Amidst the still unfolding longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors examine the bidirectional relationship between the virus and nutrition, highlighting strategies to mitigate disease severity through optimal nutrition interventions. Additionally, the book tackles the rising prevalence of food allergies, and discusses how the shift in guidelines on food allergy prevention supports the early introduction of allergens rather than avoidance as well as dietary patterns and current diets’ roles in reducing the risk of certain non-communicable diseases. The book heralds a new era in pediatric nutrition – one that embraces personalized nutrition interventions, the transformative potential of digital health, and the principles of sustainable nutrition to ensure health-promoting dietary practices. It also explores the burgeoning role of artificial intelligence in identifying new biomarkers and developing predictive models for pediatric health.