Dubai, 3 February 2015: Breakthrough findings from recently-concluded research proving that one of the worlds most researched probiotics known as L-Protectus (L.reuteri) helps strengthen gut defenses of one to three year-old children have been unveiled at a Nestl roundtable discussion in Dubai, with the participation of leading local and international experts in the fields of clinical nutrition, pediatric medicine and nutrition research.

According to a recent study published in the UAE by Dr. Mohamad Miqdady, Division Chief, Pediatric Gastrointestinal Infections, Hepatology and Nutrition Division at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, children between the ages of one and three fall sick due to infectious diseases 10 to 15 times a year, which is why discovering new means to strengthen their immune system is crucial. Almost 100% of children will encounter these gastrointestinal infections, and more than once. Such illness can affect the family in several ways; in addition to the direct and indirect costs, it can also disturb the familys dynamics and can result in the loss of more than two days of work for the parents.

The study also showed that the gut is the most important line of defense in our body since it houses 80% of immunity cells, and maintaining its health and balance with good nutrition is essential to preventing gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea.

Toddlers have a tiny stomach that is the size of their fist, explained Dr. Wafaa Ayesh Director, Clinical Nutrition Department, Clinical Support Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority. This is why we must ensure they get several small meals a day containing the right nutritionally dense foods that help them grow healthily. Milk is a very important food at this age, especially specialised growing-up milk containing that is designed to cater to their growing needs.

It is generally recognized that as children turn one, they learn from exploring and touching everything around them. While this is necessary for healthy growth, it exposes them to germs and increases their risk of getting sick.

This randomized placebo-controlled study has been completed by 336 children proving that L. Protectus (L. reuteri) helps to reduce gastrointestinal infections in children when given on a daily basis. Therefore, it is important for parents to know that choosing the right nutrition for their children from a very young age is crucial to avoid them from getting these infections, and subsequently growing up healthy, concluded the events key speaker Dr. Kimmo Makinen, Senior Scientist and a probiotic expert at the Nestl Research Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland. The findings of this study are supported by two additional independent studies in infants and children.

Nestl, the worlds Nutrition, Health and Wellness leader, is committed to develop products that best support growth and development of the child. NESTL NIDO ONE PLUS is the only specialised growing-up milk that contains FortiProtect which includes L-Protectus (L.reuteri) to help strengthen gut defenses, prebiotics to encourage a healthy digestive system and Iron, Zinc and Vitamins that help support immunity, growth and bone development.

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