Early Nutrition: Impact on Short- and Long-Term Health

Book excerpt: In this book, a selected group of international experts review nutritional practices and feeding behaviors in infancy and early childhood. They present the latest knowledge on feeding practices during the period considered and their effect on growth, development, and immediate and long-term health. One of the main topics discussed involves feeding practices in the newborn critical care unit, concentrating on the use of human donor milk and probiotics in the diet of premature and ill newborns. Another point of focus is the causes and the effect of an insufficient intake of selected micronutrients, such as iron and zinc, which is highly prevalent particularly in the developing world. Besides, this publication contains information on the influence of early feeding habits on the later development of a number of health-related issues such as food allergies, later food preferences and eating habits, obesity, bone development, the risk of developing celiac disease in genetically predisposed children.This volume provides essential reading for pediatricians, clinical investigators and health workers interested in the effects of early nutrition on health.