#Finland #Helsinki #Breast Milk #Yili #ESPGHAN

Yili's Innovations Highlighted at ESPGHAN 2025

From May 14 to 17, 2025, Helsinki served as the backdrop for the 57th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). This prestigious event brought together experts from across the globe to share the latest advancements in pediatric nutrition and health. One of the standout contributors was Yili, internationally recognized for its innovative research in the field of breast milk.

At the conference, Yili presented twelve key studies focusing on breast milk, notably covering topics such as Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), lactoferrin, and the optimal balance of fatty acids in maternal diets. Yili also organized a dedicated seminar that captured the attention of numerous international delegates, further emphasizing the importance of its findings.

Among the many abstracts submitted, a collaborative study involving Yili, Dr. Ai Zhao's team from Tsinghua University, and the National Innovation Center for Dairy Technology in China received one of the highest scores. This groundbreaking study was the first to utilize machine learning to unravel the nutritional complexity of breast milk. It revealed that a specific combination of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), and DSLNT (a type of oligosaccharide) can accurately modulate the gut microbiota in both mothers and infants, providing a basis for targeted nutritional interventions aimed at improving maternal and infant health.

In addition to this pivotal research, Yili's collaborations with Tsinghua University, Nanchang University, and the China Agricultural University resulted in further groundbreaking discoveries. These studies shed light on how maternal postpartum emotional states can influence infant gut microbiota and early brain development. Other findings indicated that a balanced dietary profile of fatty acids can enhance lipid metabolism and cognitive functions through the modulation of gut microbiota. Moreover, the potential benefits of Human Milk Fat Substitutes (HMFS) were discussed, showcasing their capacity to regulate gut microbiota and support healthy physical development in infants, alongside reducing fat accumulation.

Dr. Ignatius Szeto, Deputy Chairman of the Yili Group, presented significant findings during the seminar titled “Promoting Healthy Infant Development: Insights from Breast Milk, Gut Microbiota, and Nutritional Research.” He emphasized the vital role that HMOs play in fostering healthy gut function, immune response, nutrient absorption, and cognitive development in infants. During a panel discussion, Professor Zhang Yumei from Peking University's School of Public Health elaborated on four key aspects of breast milk research, clearly highlighting the synergistic benefits of important components like HMOs, lactoferrin, and nucleotides in supporting immune, gut, nervous, and metabolic health in infants. She commended Yili for offering a comprehensive perspective on the health benefits attributed to breast milk, advocating for an AI-driven paradigm in maternal-infant nutrition research and pushing the boundaries of precision nutrition for children.

From a clinical trial perspective, Professor Marc Benning from the University Medical Center of Amsterdam emphasized the need for incorporating intestinal health biomarkers as crucial outcome measures in pediatric nutrition research.

Currently, Yili's Pro-Kido infant formula brand excels in delivering a diverse range of specialized nutritional solutions for infants across global markets. Notable products include ZhenHu, Aronurish, Seine Mouiller, and UITSTEKEND GEITENMELK.

Looking ahead, Yili aims to leverage its 15 global innovation centers to drive research and development innovation across the entire value chain while fostering international collaboration in dairy research. This commitment is geared toward better serving consumers worldwide and enhancing the nutritional landscape for infants.