This year's Dubai International Nutrition Congress centred around various issues related to COVID-19 and how to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on nutrition and mental health. Inaugurated by Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the DHA (Dubai Health Authority), the sixth edition of the Congress took place from October 22-24, 2020. Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, the three-day event concluded on Saturday with 35 speakers sharing information about the latest research and the best practices in the field of clinical nutrition.

During the event, a number of prominent speakers from over 20 countries discussed various topics, particularly on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, quality of living in the UAE, and changes in lifestyle and eating habits during the pandemic in the country. At the same time, they made several recommendations aimed at encouraging UAE residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle in a bid to mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The speakers stressed the significance of promoting a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, regularly exercising and addressing mental health concerns in a bid to improve the immune system against COVID-19. They also recommended for medical workers and nutritionists to develop a healthy diet with suitable food alternatives for diabetics. It is important to include food alternatives that are high in Vitamin D in the diet for children, pregnant mothers, adolescents, and senior citizens. These foods can be either naturally-sourced or nutritional supplements.

For intensive care patients, it is crucial that they are provided with protein-rich foods in the appropriate quantity. Therefore, it is important to set up the basic standards for providing adequate nutrition to hospitalized intensive care patients. A number of studies have shown that the timing and amount of protein given to critically ill patients play a significant role in determining their mortality rate.

Keeping in mind that the microbiota is highly essential in boosting the immune system, it has also been recommended that such foods and medicines must be promoted in the diet that maintains the presence and activation of similar beneficial bacteria inside the human body

In addition, it is critically essential to pay attention to the health of a child from the initial stages of pregnancy and during the period of preparation for pregnancy. To ensure both the mother's and child's health and wellbeing, it is important that the mother consumes all healthy foods, minerals and vitamins that are necessary for boosting the health of the fetus. A monther's proper diet intake will help in avoiding several diseases including iron deficiency, osteoporosis of children and malnutrition among others.

At the same time, the speakers laid emphasis on raising awareness about the significant role played by physical activities in managing mental health disorders. It is also important for people to regulate their working hours in a bid to reduce their burden during the ongoing pandemic circumstances.

Other recommendations made by speakers during the event include raising awareness and nutritional education among the public on the need for children participating in choosing and inculcating healthy eating habits. Furthermore, relevant entities must encourage and provide all necessary support for promoting special studies and research in nutritional fields in a bid to increase awareness among the public.

WAM