II CHUP Conference on Nutrition with the Scientific Support of CINTESIS

“Nutrir ao Envelhecer” (Nutrition and Ageing). This was the topic of the II Conference on Nutrition organized by the Nutrition and Food Service of the University Hospital Center of Porto (CHUP), with the support of CINTESIS.

This second edition took place on March 1 at the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS) of the University of Porto.

The opening ceremony was delivered by Alexandra Bento, president of the Portuguese Order of Nutritionists; Pedro Graça and Henrique Cyrne Carvalho, Directors of ICBAS and the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences of the University of Porto (FCNAUP) respectively; José Barros, Clinical Director of CHUP, Fernando Pichel, Director of the Nutrition and Food Service of CHUP and member of the Organizing Committee.

The president of the Order of Nutritionists said the topic of this conference was “especially joyous” and highlighted its relevance, since the average life expectancy in Portugal has increased considerably in recent years, and therefore, there are more and more elderly people in the country.

Alexandra Bento pointed out that ageing goes hand in hand with many diseases associated with food, reinforcing the indispensable intervention of health professionals, namely nutritionists.

In the conference a lecture was presented about diseases and ageing physiologies, moderated by Helena Cardoso, Director of the Endocrinology Service of CHUP and by Nuno Borges, CINTESIS researcher and professor at the FCNAUP, which culminated in an open discussion with the public posing questions to the lecturers.

The event, which lasted until late afternoon, demystified some preconceived ideas about ageing and warned current and future health professionals about the challenges pose by this process inherent to the human evolution.

According to Henrique Cyrne Carvalho, for the relevance and quality that the conference represents, the ICBAS will remain available for them next year.

The CHUP Conference on Nutrition counts, from its very first edition, with the participation of Júlio César Rocha, CINTESIS researcher, as member of the Scientific Committee.