It’s not only baby who needs optimal nutrition during the crucial stage of early life. Mum may also benefit from the right nutrients before and during pregnancy, as well as in those stressful first months of parenthood.
Mothers around the globe are more interested than ever in the importance of nourishing their own health and well-being while bringing a child into the world. Discover how ingredient solutions can help meet the need for improved nutrition and address anxiety during a mother’s own 1000 days.
Maternal nutrition and lifestyle choices before, during and after pregnancy can influence the health of both mother and baby
Marangoni, F., Cetin, I., Verduci, E., Canzone, G., Giovannini, M., Scollo, P., Corsello, G., & Poli, A. (2016). Maternal diet and nutrient requirements in pregnancy and breastfeeding. An Italian consensus document. In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8100629
Miles, E. A., & Calder, P. C. (2017). Can early omega-3 fatty acid exposure reduce risk of childhood allergic disease? In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9070784
. Mothers need adequate quantities of minerals like iodine, iron and calcium, as well as vitamin D, DHA and folic acid during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Marangoni, F., Cetin, I., Verduci, E., Canzone, G., Giovannini, M., Scollo, P., Corsello, G., & Poli, A. (2016). Maternal diet and nutrient requirements in pregnancy and breastfeeding. An Italian consensus document. In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8100629
. Having a child is not only an incredibly exciting experience, but also sometimes a stressful one—especially as the world deals with the consequences of a global health crisis. Some of the most common challenges reported by mothers during pregnancy include nutrient deficiency, digestive discomfort and higher levels of anxiety 41. We offer our customers solutions to support mothers with these challenges, including ingredients like non-digestible galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and DHA (omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid; LCPUFA).
At FrieslandCampina Ingredients, we’re passionate about the potential benefits GOS can provide at any age. Over the past few decades, we have been developing highest-quality GOS ingredients for infant and young child formula, as well as for adult solutions. A study of iron-depleted young women found that consuming GOS enabled them to absorb greater amounts of iron from an iron supplement
Jeroense, F., Michel, L., Zeder, C., & Herter-aeberli, I. (2019). Consumption of Galacto Oligosaccharides Increases Iron Absorption from Ferrous Fumarate : A Stable Iron Isotope Study in Iron-Depleted Young Women. J Nutr, 149, 738–746..
. GOS have also been found to significantly increase calcium absorption in post-menopausal women
Van den Heuvel, E. G. H. M., Schoterman, M. H. C., & Muijs, T. (2000). Transgalactooligosaccharides Stimulate Calcium Absorption in Postmenopausal Women. The Journal of Nutrition, 130, 2938–2942.
. Further studies have shown that GOS combat constipation in adults above 60 years 139 141, and offer a stronger prebiotic effect than fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), linked to better intestinal barrier function in vitro and a reduced stress response in adults 3 132.
Mums-to-be may struggle with a range of stress factors which may have an impact on their health and well-being and that of their baby. Stress, in turn, can contribute to other related disorders like anxiety, a sustained mental health disorder 137. To explore how diet could support women, FrieslandCampina Ingredients undertook a collaborative research programme with the University of Surrey. It aimed to examine the effects of GOS supplementation on anxiety and emotional well-being, as well as the role of the gut-brain axis. Initial results show that the consumption of Vivinal® GOS may be effective in lowering anxiety and improving emotional well-being in highly anxious women 75. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids for health
The importance of maternal supplementation of omega-3 LCPUFAs, including DHA, has been shown in several clinical trials. Beneficial effects on visual acuity and long-term neurodevelopment have been found studying infants and children of supplemented mothers 20 71 72 81. DHA supplementation may decrease the risk of early premature birth 77 81 101 165 and may reduce the risk of allergy development in early life 13 81 102 163.
Our research reveals the nutritional support that mothers in different parts of the globe have in mind (FrieslandCampina Ingredients social listening research, May 2020; FrieslandCampina Ingredients, consumer research China, August 2020).
In the US, prebiotics* are one of the top 5 most talked-about nutrients in relation to pregnancy, along with iron and folic acid.
In Australia and New Zealand, social listening reveals frequent conversations around the benefits of DHA.
Stress and anxiety are the top concerns of pregnant women in China, affecting 61% of moms-to-be. This is closely followed by getting the right nutrition, which is a concern for 57%.
Pregnancy worries of Chinese women rise over time and are found to be highest on average during the third trimester.
Purified galacto-oligosaccharide syrup containing high levels of galacto-oligosaccharides and low levels of mono-saccharides. It provides enhanced drying properties in wet blending.
Galacto-oligosaccharide high purity powder containing high levels of galacto-oligosaccharides and low levels of mono-saccharides.
This complex carbohydrate syrup is rich in non-digestible galacto-oligosaccharides and is used world-wide for infant nutrition.
Vivinal® GOS Syrup Organic is a complex organic carbohydrate syrup, rich in non-digestible galacto-oligosaccharides (59%).
Vana-Sana DHASCO 8 IF protein-free is an encapsulated algal oil specially designed for application in hypo-allergenic infant formula.
Micro-encapsulated ingredient for infant formula containing 11% DHA. Developed for dry addition and based on algea based DHA oil.
Encapsulated fungal oil with 8% ARA.
Supports brain development
Vana®-Sana DHA 11A IF is an encapsulated natural tuna oil specially designed for application in infant formula.
Micro-encapsulated ingredient for infant formula containing 8% ARA. Developed for dry addition and based on carefully selected fungal ARA oil.
FrieslandCampina Ingredients provides a variety of ingredient solutions to support the growth and development of babies after birth and during childhood. Our innovations in ingredients for infant and young child formula are backed by over 75 years’ manufacturing experience in the field of early life nutrition. Discover everything you need to bring high-quality, mum-preferred solutions to market, along with personalised support from our passionate experts.
*The scientific definition of a prebiotic is ‘a substrate that is selectively utilised by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit’. Gibson GR, et al. Expert consensus document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Aug;14(8):491-502. Whether the claim ‘prebiotic’ can be used on consumer products depends on local legislation.
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