From early life to healthy ageing, nutrition science is increasingly shifting toward a lifespan perspective. For scientists working in industry, this evolution presents both complexity and opportunity: identifying meaningful biomarkers, clarifying mechanisms, defining relevant endpoints, and translating evidence into solutions that can improve public health.

Across its Nutrition portfolio, ILSI Europe provides a neutral platform where scientists from industry collaborate with academic and public sector experts to address precisely these questions. The recent activities presented in this column illustrate how collaborative science can generate robust evidence, clarify emerging fields, and shape future research agendas.

Early-life biomarkers for obesity risk

An expert group commissioned by ILSI Europe’s Early Nutrition & Long-Term Health (ENLH) Task Force (1) recently published a major systematic review in Obesity Reviews (2). It identifies early-life factors linked to childhood obesity across the first 1,000 days of life. The strongest risk factors include, on the maternal side: higher pre-pregnancy BMI, excessive gestational weight gain, and smoking during pregnancy; and, on the infant side: higher birthweight, being large-for-gestational-age, lack of breastfeeding, and rapid infant weight gain. Drawing on evidence from more than 1.8 million children worldwide, the work provides an updated scientific basis to support early risk identification and preventive nutrition strategies.

Building on this achievement, the expert group is now extending its work toward biomarkers linked to later cardiometabolic disease outcomes, with a second manuscript currently under review. These efforts aim to support innovation in early-life nutrition solutions and help stakeholders design more targeted prevention approaches.

Clarifying the emerging field of postbiotics in early-life nutrition

While early-life risk identification is advancing, innovation in infant nutrition is also expanding into new scientific territories. One such area is postbiotics. Supported by leading companies that are members of the ENLH and Probiotics Task Forces (1, 3), a dedicated expert group is working to clarify safety, efficacy, and research priorities related to postbiotics in early-life nutrition. As this field evolves rapidly, consensus-building and critical evaluation of the evidence are essential to avoid fragmentation and ensure scientific robustness.

A key milestone will be an international workshop in Brussels on 22 September 2026, which will bring together experts to discuss the current evidence and develop recommendations feeding into future research and practical applications. This activity offers valuable opportunities for industry and academic stakeholders to engage in shaping next-generation microbiome-informed nutrition solutions.

Figure 1. Experts gathered at the ILSI Europe office in Brussels for a workshop on nutrition interventions for healthy ageing (16 February 2026).

Nutrition Interventions for Healthy Ageing…

As populations age, maintaining function and resilience becomes a central public health priority, and a growing area of scientific and commercial interest. ILSI Europe’s Healthy Ageing Task Force (4), composed of a dozen companies active in the field, aims to advance understanding of the biological mechanisms underpinning ageing and to support the development of sustainable nutritional strategies that contribute to healthier ageing trajectories. Last February, they convened 20 selected experts from industry, academia, and public sector for a focused workshop in Brussels (Fig. 1). Discussions examined research and translation gaps across four interconnected domains: gut microbiome, cognitive function, muscle health, and mitochondrial fitness.

A central theme that emerged was the importance of timing. The key is to identify optimal windows during which nutritional interventions may have the greatest preventive or functional impact. Participants also highlighted the need for more meaningful and harmonised clinical endpoints, age-stage tailored approaches, and stronger interdisciplinary collaboration to better align mechanistic insights with practical application. The outcomes of this workshop will feed into peer-reviewed proceedings and inform new activity proposals, helping to shape a more coordinated research agenda for healthy ageing.

…and for the Ageing Brain

Within the broader healthy ageing agenda, brain health represents both a scientific frontier and a pressing societal need.

Age-related cognitive decline is common, and many of the mechanisms underlying normal ageing, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and vascular changes, are also implicated in neurological diseases. Although substantial evidence links nutrients and dietary patterns to cognitive performance and brain health, translation into clear clinical and public health guidance remains limited. Major health organisations have yet to define specific dietary recommendations for preserving cognitive function across ageing.

To address these gaps, ILSI Europe has established the Nutrition for the Ageing Brain Symposium as a long-standing flagship scientific platform (5). The symposium convenes leading researchers to discuss emerging evidence on how nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns influence brain health, and how these insights can be translated into meaningful clinical and public health contexts. The 6th edition, planned for Spring 2027, will continue this tradition of high-level scientific exchange. Companies interested in contributing to and gaining visibility within this thought-leading forum are invited to express their interest in sponsoring the event.

Supporting Responsible Nutrition Solutions Across the Lifespan

Nutrition is a dynamic, lifelong process. Designing relevant, science-based products and interventions requires robust biomarkers, harmonised endpoints, and cross-sector dialogue. By bringing together companies, academic researchers, and public sector experts in structured, pre-competitive collaboration, ILSI Europe helps build the scientific foundations that enable responsible innovation aligned with long-term public health needs.