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A notable trend was highlighted at the recent European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) annual meeting: the expanding global influence of the Chinese market and Chinese scientific research.
Katrien Van Laere, Global Senior Vice President and Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at Danone, explicitly stated that China is not only one of the most important global markets for infant and young child nutrition products but is also becoming a significant source of global scientific achievements. Research conducted in China is even beginning to influence international guidelines and industry standards. The future development of nutritional science will increasingly rely on Chinese research, artificial intelligence, and precision nutrition.
Hu Ruibiao, R&D Director for Infant and Child Nutrition and Care Products in China at Health & Happiness (H&H) Group, also believes that overseas research and development must be effectively implemented in the Chinese market to meet the needs of local consumers and keep pace with the market's rhythm.
The Prestigious ESPGHAN Conference and China's Growing Presence
Recognized as the "Nobel Prize" of pediatric nutrition research, this year's ESPGHAN annual meeting gathered over 6,000 authoritative scholars, experts, and industry professionals from 116 countries and regions globally. The conference also featured a dedicated China session to showcase research outcomes from the country.
Chinese Research Begins to Influence European Standards
For decades, China's nutrition industry largely learned from European experience. Today, this dynamic is changing. Research by Chinese experts in the diagnosis and treatment of cow's milk protein allergy in infants is now being presented and shared on the international stage.
Professor Gong Sitang from the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center explained that China has developed a diagnostic pathway for cow's milk protein allergy more suitable for Chinese families. Unlike the European approach, which has long prioritized extensively hydrolyzed formula, Chinese experts recommend starting with an amino acid-based formula for diagnosis. Using an amino acid formula allows for faster, clearer diagnosis and quicker relief of symptoms in affected children, aligning with the desire of Chinese parents to resolve issues promptly.
Professor Gong noted that this Chinese approach has since been documented by the World Allergy Organization (WAO) and adopted by countries like Australia and Mexico. By 2024, the latest European expert consensus has also begun to formally incorporate relevant content.
Diagnosing and managing cow's milk protein allergy presents challenges, such as children experiencing recurrent eczema or diarrhea without parents knowing if allergies are the cause, and difficulties in rapid diagnosis at hospitals due to a lack of unified standards.
To address challenges in diagnosing food protein allergies, a Chinese team presented a self-developed Food Allergy Score for Kids (FASK) scale suitable for Chinese infants and young children at this year's ESPGHAN meeting. This scale, targeting major symptoms related to food allergies, features a clinically operable scoring system designed to help doctors conduct more efficient preliminary screening of allergic children through quantified standards. The scale is set for nationwide promotion in China and has already attracted international peer attention via the ESPGHAN platform.
Professor Shao Jie from the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine also stated that China is participating more deeply in global research. "Different ethnicities, dietary habits, and lifestyles exist, so we need our own research and our own solutions."
Global Advanced Formulas Require Validation from Chinese Research
Beyond academic research, international companies are increasingly emphasizing the importance of Chinese research and the Chinese market. For instance, while China's infant formula industry learned from European experience for decades, this relationship is now evolving.
Katrien Van Laere explained that Danone's most advanced formula products now heavily utilize Chinese research data in their development process. "Today, our most advanced formula products have undergone extensive research and testing in China. When developing formula products, we also fully consider China's regulatory requirements."
Van Laere stated that Danone will continue to increase its investment in Chinese scientific research: "Because we see that the level of scientific research in China is already very high, conducting scientific research in China is very valuable."
Hu Ruibiao noted that China's infant formula market is among the most developed globally. Many cutting-edge scientific achievements and innovative technologies originating in Europe also find broad development space in the Chinese market. Leveraging its massive market scale and continuously upgrading consumer demand, more high-end innovative ingredients are undergoing in-depth research and widespread application in China. For example, while Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) originated in Europe and were first developed by European research teams, they have become a key research direction in China's infant nutrition field in recent years.
"However, relying solely on overseas leading research capabilities and technological accumulation is far from sufficient. The key lies in conducting localized research that combines with Chinese market demands and truly implementing innovative outcomes," Hu Ruibiao said. H&H Group has formula R&D centers in France, Ireland, Australia, and China. From the perspective of breast milk research, the content of certain nutrients in Chinese breast milk differs somewhat from that abroad, necessitating deeper research based on Chinese mother-infant populations. Simultaneously, clinical research within Chinese infant populations is needed to scientifically validate product efficacy, thereby better meeting the needs of Chinese consumers.
Professor Shao Jie, commenting on the Chinese market, stated that in the field of infant food allergy, "We have Chinese diagnostic solutions, and because ethnicities differ, higher demands are also placed on mechanisms and products."
Nutrition Science Emerges as a Global Research Hotspot
"Rather than any breakthrough discoveries at this year's ESPGHAN, it's more that the entire industry has finally begun to truly recognize the importance of the microbiome," Van Laere remarked. "The gut microbiome is receiving increasing attention. Both China and Europe recognize that microbiome health is crucial for overall health."
Recent studies have found that with changes in modern Western lifestyles, levels of bifidobacteria in human populations are declining, and these bacteria are closely related to the immune system and child growth and development.
A decade ago, research around the microbiome was just an emerging direction; today, these findings are being applied in infant formula and gradually becoming industry consensus.
"Nutrition in early life will impact health for decades to come. This is also the concept of 'Health Programming' that international nutrition science is increasingly focusing on," Van Laere added.
AI Will Transform the Nutrition Industry, But Not Replace Science
Beyond research itself, Van Laere looks forward to another ongoing change. In the future, people will no longer just refer to health claims on food packaging but will be able to take their own measurements.
"If I eat a certain food, what happens to my blood sugar? What changes occur in my gut flora? Even through stool testing, I could see the different results brought by different foods."
She believes that with the development of digital health and AI, consumers will, for the first time, be able to truly verify the health claims made by food companies. "I really like this trend. Because it means we are moving towards a more transparent era of nutrition."
In recent years, artificial intelligence has begun to transform drug discovery. Van Laere believes the next industry to benefit is nutritional science.
She stated that systems like human metabolism and gut flora are extremely complex, and AI's greatest advantage is its ability to identify previously unrecognizable correlations from vast amounts of data: "AI can help us propose new scientific hypotheses, but AI will not replace experiments. Genuine scientific research still requires extensive clinical validation."
However, she also believes nutritional science stands at a significant turning point. In the future, technology, data, and artificial intelligence will help people more precisely understand how nutrition shapes health.
When asked about the increasing parenting anxiety among young parents, Van Laere did not delve into complex research. She offered a very simple piece of advice: "Enjoy the process of being a parent."
She indicated that the industry's true goal is to enable families who cannot breastfeed to also have access to safe, well-tolerated formula products, allowing children to grow healthily so parents do not feel guilty about being unable to breastfeed.
For consumers, this nutritional revolution happening in laboratories is ultimately not about creating more marketing concepts but about hoping every family can have more scientific choices and less anxiety when facing their child's growth.
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