Nutrition Publications

This edition of Annales Nestlé highlights emerging research on the crucial role of breastfeeding and the gut microbiome during the first 1,000 days—a critical window for lifelong health. It explores how bioactive compounds in human milk shape the infant gut microbiome, influencing immunity, metabolism, neurodevelopment, and bone health. Delivery mode, diet, antibiotics, and environment significantly impact microbial colonization, with disruptions linked to increased risks of allergies, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and bone loss. Interventions for optimizing microbiome

Early childhood is a critical period when nutrition and environmental factors strongly influence lifelong brain development, physical health, and overall well-being. Both undernutrition and overnutrition can lead to growth faltering and increase the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with lasting effects on individual potential and broader societal outcomes. This issue of Annales Nestlé presents practical, up-to-date strategies for assessing growth and addressing both faltering and catch-up growth. It emphasizes early growth as a crucial phase for metabolic and developmental programming

In this symposium, leading experts explored the evolving role of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in childhood development and their benefits beyond immunity. The speakers discussed the key factors influencing HMO composition, the critical role of HMOs in shaping the infant gut microbiota, highlighting the complexity of HMO-microbiota interactions. The talks also focused on human milk-inspired biotics, such as synbiotics, in fostering a balanced gut microbiome, supporting growth, immune development, and offered insights into future research aimed at understanding the specific functions of