Symposium highlights approaches to improving Asian child nutrition

Many Vietnamese and foreign experts shared the latest perspectives on and novel approaches to improving the nutritional status of Asian children at the FrieslandCampina Institute Asia Pacific Symposium held recently in Ho Chi Minh City.
Symposium highlights approaches to improving Asian child nutrition ảnh 1The FrieslandCampina Institute Asia Pacific Symposium discusses improving the nutritional status of Asian children in HCM City. (Photo courtesy of the company)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Many Vietnamese and foreign experts shared the latest perspectiveson and novel approaches to improving the nutritional status of Asian childrenat the FrieslandCampina Institute Asia Pacific Symposium held recently in Ho ChiMinh City.

At the event theymade presentations on malnutrition, obesity and deficiency of micronutrients.

The experts alsodiscussed the diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal disorders and treatmentusing clinical nutrients under criteria called ROME IV and allergy to cow milkprotein.

The symposiumhighlighted the roles of protein, fat, prebiotics, and other nutrients in dailymeals for children’s health. 

The South East AsianNutrition Survey done by the FCI and Vietnam’s National Institute of Nutritionfound that 30-40 percent of children in large cities suffered from obesity oroverweight and 21-30 percent of children in rural and suburban areas frommalnutrition.

It has beenattributed to a shortage of micro-nutrients, which also affects physicaldevelopment and intelligence.

The surveyrecommended that a proper nutritious diet to improve the situation was neededin each country.

Dr Nguyen Van Cuong,a representative of Friso, said “high quality” protein helps children digesteasily and reduce functional gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation,diarrhoea and others since the process of manufacturing and treating with heatcauses little influence on the protein.

High-quality proteinalso helps children efficiently absorb vital micro-nutrients to create a goodfoundation for long-term development.

Dr Jaddoe, apaediatrician, a professor of pediatric epidemiology and the principalinvestigator of the Generation R Study in the Netherlands, said protein plays avery important role in children’s daily nutrition regimen, especiallynewborns’.

A proper proteinsupplement is recommended for children depending on their health, hesaid.   

The symposium wasorganised by the FrieslandCampina Institute (FCI) of global dairy company RoyalFrieslandCampina, which sells the Friso brand in co-operation with the VietnamPaediatrics Association.

It is held annuallyand gives nutritionists and paediatricians the chance to update their knowledgeand experience.

FrieslandCampinaorganises it as part of its commitment to co-operate with the health sector,experts and scientists for research and development of nutritious products forimproving the health of mothers and children.

It attracted morethan 120 health experts from the Netherlands, Singapore, Malaysia, thePhilippines, and Vietnam.-VNS/VNA
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