Course code Medi6008

Credit points 3

Children and Teenagers Nutrition

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures20

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes4

Independent study hours57

Date of course confirmation12.01.2024

Responsible UnitInstitute of Food

Course abstract

The aim of the study course is to provide knowledge about children development as well as anatomical and physiological peculiarities in various age periods paying attention to the particularities of the structure of the stomach and intestinal tract. Students learn about feeding principles of pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, infants, toddlers, children and adolescents; become acquainted with the basic principles of healthy nutrition for children ages (based on international guidelines), as well as with various factors (macro- and micro- nutrients deficiency) induced symptoms.
Students are given the knowledge of the basic principles of nutrition of different diseases according to child’s age, as well as the importance of disease prevention and treatment.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge:
1) know the children age stages, as well as the periods to focus in the main characteristics and risk factors related to nutritional requirements in each age period;
2) know the child’s physical development and nutritional evaluation principles;
3) know the child’s stomach and intestine tract structure characteristics and the factors affecting the choice of nutrition and composing menu;
4) know the basic principles of composing a menu during pregnancy and in breast-feeding period, as well as the promotion of breastfeeding;
5) know the principles of toddler, child and adolescent catering as well as nutritional standards for menu;
6) know the requirements for the children nutrition for various diseases discussed during study course;
7) know the manifestations of various diseases in childhood and the importance of nutrition in treatment and prevention.
Skills:
8) independently and/or in groups compose healthy child menu and evaluate its nutritional value;
9) independently and/or in groups compose menu to child in cases of various pathologies and evaluate its nutritional value;
10) evaluate the symptoms of micronutrient and macronutrient deficiency in children and adolescents.
Competencies:
11) integrate knowledge about paediatric diseases with nutrition therapy, discuss and critically evaluate different types of nutrition choice in case of childhood diseases;

12) promote critical analysis an evaluation of research problems in nutrition science.

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures
1. Perinatal, child and adolescent morbidity, periodization of childhood, relation to nutritional factors. L2
2. WHO recommendations for child nutrition. European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology guidelines. L2
3. Nutrition in case of chronic diseases in children. L2
4. Anatomico-physiological peculiarities of digestion system in children. L2
5. Childhood obesity. L2
6. Natural feeding. Artificial feeding. Breast milk substitutes. L2
7. The importance of macronutrients and micronutrients in various childhood periods. Pathologies induced by its deficiency or excess. L2
8. Diet during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Infant feeding. Baby friendly hospital initiative. L2
9. Therapeutic nutrition in the cases of hereditary metabolic diseases I: general overview, definition, classification, treatment principles. L2
10. Therapeutic nutrition in the cases of hereditary metabolic diseases II: the most common and in Latvia diagnosed – treatment options, nutrient calculation principles, patient training. L2
11. Nutrition for children with allergies. L2
12. Nutrition for children with acute diseases. L2
13. Nutrition physiology in adolescence.
Seminars
1 seminar. Master’s report presentations.
2 seminar. Master’s report presentations.

3 seminar. Master’s report presentations.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Lecture attendance not less than 85%. Successfully prepared ad presented report (50%). Requirements for report:
1) scientific literature review about selected topic;
2) include the latest research in the selected topic – published in SVI journals (at least 15 literary sources);
3) present a summary of the report in PowerPoint format;
4) volume: 8-12 pages, submitted on the A4-format.
Successfully passed a written test (exam) (50%).

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students’ independent work is organized individually and /or in groups.
Practical assignments:
1) literature study – related to study course topics;
2) a report preparation and presentation.

3) the discussion about the report topics.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Successfully prepared ad presented report (50%). Successfully passed a written test (exam) (50%).

Compulsory reading

1. Kliegman, G. (2019) Nelson textbook of pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier.
2. Kleinman, R.E. (2014) Pediatric nutrition. 7th Edit. Eurospan Ltd.
3. Zariņš, Z., Neimane, L., Bodnieks, E. (2018) Uztura mācība. 7. izdevums, LU Akadēmiskais apgāds.

4. Lissauer, T., Carroll, W. (2017) Illustrated textbook of paediatrics. 5th ed., Elsevier Limited.

Further reading

1. Bērnu slimību riska faktori (2009) I.Rumbas Rozenfeldes redakcijā. LU Akadēmiskais apgāds.
2. Heimburger, D., Ard, J. (2006) Handbook of clinical nutrition. 4th edit. Elsevier.
3. Latvijas ārsts, Doctus
4. National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health Bright Futures. Nutrition practice. www.brightfutures.ord/nutrition/about.html
5. Academy for Eating Disorders. For professionals working in the area of eating disorders. www.aedweb.org
6. Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. www.ANAD.org
7. National Eating Disorders Association. www.edap.org
8. Children’s PKU Network. www.pkunetwork.org/PKU.html
9. Fatty acid oxidation disorder communication network. www.fodsupport.org
10. National Organization for Rare Disorders. (NORD) www.rarediseases.org/cgi-bin/nord
11. National Urea Cycle Disorders Foundation. www.NUCDF.org

12. Parents of Galactosemic children, Inc. www.galactosemia.org

Periodicals and other sources

1. www.clinicalkey.com
2. American Academy of Pediatrics. www.aap.org.
3. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
4. Clinical Nutrition

5. Journal of Nutrition, Education and Behaviour.