Feeding Throughout Pediatric Age
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course will provide students with adequate knowledge to understand nutrition in pediatric age, both in the physiological status and in the main food-related diseases (malnutrition in defect and in excess, celiac disease, food allergy, inborn errors of metabolism). Theoretical and instrumental knowledge will also be provided to perform a correct nutritional assessment of the child both for preventive (obesity and associated-alterations, eating disorders) and therapeutic purposes (parenteral and enteral nutrition). We will also discuss the principles of pharmaco-nutrition of some pediatric pathologies (ketogenic diet, diet in inborn errors of metabolism).
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will acquire skills regarding: how to evaluate the nutritional status of the child, such as nutritional schemes and dietary patterns for prevention, according to the age groups; the nutritional principles for the treatment of the main food-related diseases of the child; the elaboration of specific diets for some pathologies (diets for obesity and metabolic syndrome, ketogenic diets, diets for phenylketonuria and glycogen stores) and the principles of artificial nutrition.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
1) Principles of Pediatric Clinical Nutrition. The following concepts with reference to pediatric age will be recalled: nutrients and their nutritional and functional value; nutritional requirements (application of RDAs in pediatric age); assessment of nutritional status and body composition in children; nutrition education toward a balanced diet and promotion of healthy lifestyles: food and physical activity pyramids in children. 2) Food and nutrition in the child: physiology and pathology - Nutritional programming - Nutrition in early life and risk of future diet-induced diseases. -Nutrition in pregnancy and lactation - Breastfeeding: short- and long-term benefits- Main diet-related diseases in children: obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia: epidemiology, pathogenetic mechanisms to be traced to nutritional factors, complications. -Complications of obesity. The liver in obesity: epidemiology and pathophysiology -Metabolic syndrome in children: identification of critical periods to set preventive strategies -Treatment of pediatric essential obesity and complications - Psychological and behavioral aspects of the patient with obesity: lifestyle intervention.-Nutritional approach in cow's milk protein allergy and celiac disease. 3) Nutrition and dietetics in pediatric age: new topical issues The following concepts with reference to pediatric age will be recalled:- Concepts of nutrigenomics, nutrigenetics and epigenetics -Functional food- omega 3 in the prevention and treatment of metabolic alterations and diet-related diseases - Microbiome and obesity-metabolic syndrome: what link, modulation through probiotics-The Mediterranean diet today: lights and shadows -Vegetarian diets and organic products -Food safety tools 4) Assessment of nutritional status in pediatric patients (with and without disabilities) and use of growth curves. Nutrition and feeding disorders in the pediatric patient. Principles of enteral nutrition with reference to applicability in the pediatric patient. Malnutrition and undernutrition in children: epidemiology and nutritional assessment tools. Practical exercise on the use of malnutrition screening tools in pediatric age. 5) Pediatric sports nutrition, energy, macronutrient and micronutrient requirements and age-appropriate dietary patterns. Practical exercise with calculation of the pediatric patient's energy needs, breakdown of food recall and critical interpretation of energy and macro- and micronutrient intakes compared to age reference requirements. Principles of ketogenic diet in the pediatric age.
Prerequisites for admission
Nutrition principles in physiology: concept of nutritional needs and metabolism of the main nutrients (micro and macro).
Teaching methods
Face to face lessons and practical sessions
Teaching Resources
Slides and recommended books: Modern Nutrition in Health & Disease (Shils) 11 edition Lippincott Williams, Nutraceutuci in età evolutiva Scripta Manent Edizioni
Assessment methods and Criteria
At the end of the course the student will have to acquire skills regarding: how to evaluate the nutritional status of the child, such as nutritional schemes and dietary patterns to advise for prevention, according to age groups; nutritional principles for the treatment of the main food-related diseases of the child, elaboration of specific diets for some pathologies (diets for obesity and metabolic syndrome, ketogenic diets, diets for phenylketonuria and glycogen stores) and principles of artificial nutrition.
Written exam in the form of a quiz with single-answer questions.
The mark will be expressed in thirtieths.
Written exam in the form of a quiz with single-answer questions.
The mark will be expressed in thirtieths.
Professor(s)