Nutrition during pregnancy and childhood is increasingly seen as a major determinant of growth, development and future health. Extensive research carried out in pregnant women, in breastfeeding women and in infants strongly suggests that nutrition in early life has major effects on long-term health and well-being. Health problems such as hypertension, tendency to diabetes, obesity, blood lipids, vascular disease, bone health, behaviour and learning and longevity may be ‘imprinted’ during early life. This process is defined as ‘programming’ whereby a nutritional stimulus operating at a critical, sensitive period of pre and postnatal life imprints permanent effects on the structure, physiology and metabolism.

Encouraging good nutrition in pregnancy and childhood is therefore key to improving public health and it is for this reason that since 1997, our network has developed a wide range of local and international initiatives related to this subject: the funding and creation of research programs; the publication of books and monographs; the organization of events such as symposia and continuing education programs; and the development of a bibliographical database. 
 
In this section you will find, not only a list of the progams and activities of the Danone Institutes related to nutritrion and child development, but you will also find a list of key resources relevant to this topic.