Anchor symposium highlights importance of mother’s nutrition during pregnancy

Saturday, 2 July 2011 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Anchor Institute, the research arm of Fonterra Brands Lanka, recently hosted a symposium in Colombo to share new insights with health care professionals into the role of nutrition at key stages of a woman’s life, focusing on pre- and post-pregnancy.

These were delivered by guest speaker, Prof. Timothy Green, an associate professor of Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of British Columbia, Canada and a consultant to the World Health Association and Fonterra, amongst many other nutrition and dietetic associations in Asia and internationally.

Attended by over 200 healthcare practitioners, the session focused on recent advancements in nutrition during pregnancy, including, the benefits of consuming adequate amounts of nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). This was supported by international evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of food fortification with specific nutrients such as iron and folate to help pregnant women and new mothers improve the health and wellbeing of themselves and their babies.

“Many women are unaware that they have very specific nutrient needs during and after pregnancy to help maintain their health and the optimal growth and development of their unborn or new baby. For example, during pregnancy mothers need to increase their folate levels especially in early pregnancy to assist the foetus’ development and prevent birth defects. They also need nutrients like calcium, fibre and protein to stay fit and healthy throughout their pregnancy,” said Prof. Green, speaking at the event.

Fonterra Brands Lanka Managing Director, Achyut Kasireddy explained: “Fonterra’s Anchor Institute has a network of leading experts who are passionate about helping children, mothers and their families reach their full health potential by providing the very best in dairy nutrition. We work closely with leading academics and healthcare professionals to understand the latest health trends and nutrition developments so that we can ensure that our dairy products contribute in the best possible way to keep families healthy and well-nourished.”

The Anchor Institute has provided nearly Rs. 10 million in research grants to institutions to conduct studies in Sri Lanka. This research has provided vital insights into areas such as the nutritional status, dietary intake and subsequent deficiencies of school children, particularly those in vulnerable and rural communities. Additionally, the Institute facilitates many scientific nutrition forums to share knowledge and best practices among healthcare professionals. Through this collaboration, Fonterra strives to make an active contribution to the Government’s mission to increase health status as part of its national, social and economic development.