Advancing Clinical Nutrition in Georgia
Scientific research. Clinical practice. Education. Public Health
Georgian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
Established 2020
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Members
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Science. Practice. Education
WHO WE ARE
Founded in 2020, GESPEN (Georgian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) is Georgia’s first multidisciplinary scientific society dedicated to advancing clinical nutrition in Georgia. Our mission is to improve nutrtitional care, foster professional education, and promote public health through research, innovation, and international collaboration. We connect healthcare professionals, researchers, academic institutions, professional associations and patient communities to strengthen nutritional assessment, clinical practice, education and research.
Our Logo – A Historic Choice!
Heritage
When, in the 2000s, we began the first comprehensive assessment of nutritional status and population-based research on malnutrition in Georgia, we did not think about the “historical significance” of our steps. At the time, we were driven by the desire to educate society, improve patient outcomes, and address the professional challenges before us.
We searched, studied, and pioneered the use of tools for nutritional screening and assessment. We translated guidelines and developed adapted questionnaires. In accordance with the principles of modern evidence-based medicine, we analyzed data and shared our findings and conclusions with colleagues in Georgia and abroad.
Only years later did we realize that, almost unknowingly, we had become pioneers in the field. Those first steps marked the beginning of a new chapter—one that continues successfully today.
When we founded the Georgian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (GESPEN) in 2020, we already had extensive experience in nutritional assessment and management, as well as in sharing nutritional knowledge with the wider community.
That is why we chose as the symbol of our Society something that represents far more than food alone—something that has long been a symbol of Georgia’s identity.
Georgia is the homeland of the cultivated grapevine. For 8,000 years, the vine and the grape have been intertwined with our historical traditions, cultural customs, ancient medicinal and culinary practices, architecture, polyphonic singing, and even our alphabet and writing.
After all, nutrition connects every dimension of human life and society.
For this reason, we, the members of GESPEN, are sincerely proud of the history of our professional community and of the symbol of our Society—a symbol that carries not only our professional message, but also the history of our people and our country.
GESPEN Highlights
For the first time in Georgia:
Comprehensive Assessment of Nutritional Status
Nutritional Status Assessment in Older Adults and Elderly
Malnutrition Assessment Based on Current Consensus and Criteria (GLIM)
Use of Nutritional Status and Malnutrition Screening & Assessment Tools (MUST, MNA-FF/SF)
Validation and Adaptation of Nutritional Assessment Tools for the Georgian Population.
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• Malazonia M., Anuashvili A., Vashakmadze N., Corpas E., (Updated) Chapter 20. Assessment of nutritional status in the elderly. Causes and management of malnutrition in the elderly. In book Endocrinology of Aging. Clinical Aspects in Diagrams and Images, edited by Emiliano Corpas. Elsevier, USA. 2027 (currently in press)
• Malazonia M., Nutrition, Reproduction, and Age, Medical Times, Magazine No4, 18-21 September, 2025, 150-151
• Dali Kekelidze, Mari Malazonia, David Tsereteli, Iagor Kalandadze, Awareness and Knowledge of Lead Poisoning: A Street Survey in Three Municipalities of Georgia, Int. J Environ. Public Health 2024, 21 (12), 1665;
• Mari Malazonia, Ana Anuashvili, Natia Vashakmadze, Irene Bretón Lesmes, Julia Álvarez Hernández, Emiliano Corpas, VALORACIÓN DEL ESTADO NUTRICIONAL EN LA EDAD AVANZADA. CAUSAS Y MANEJO DE LA MALNUTRICIÓN EN LA EDAD AVANZADA. CAPITULO 20, ENDOCRINOLOGÍA DEL ENVEJECIMIENTO. ASPECTOS CLÍNICOS EN ESQUEMAS E IMÁGENES. Elsevier Spanish, Received 2021, Accepted 2022, Present. 25th May, 2023, Madrid
• Malazonia M., "Nutrition and Oral Health", Vol. 1, Chapter 15, p. 447-487, in the book "Clinical Periodontology", Gogilashvili K., Natsvlishvili T., 2022.
• Malazonia M., “Nutrition Traffic Light”, Inteleqti 2022, 1-284.
• Malazonia M., Anuashvili A., Vashakmadze N., Corpas E., Chapter 20. Assessment of nutritional status in the elderly. Causes and management of malnutrition in the elderly. In book Endocrinology of Aging. Clinical Aspects in Diagrams and Images, edited by Emiliano Corpas. Elsevier, USA. 2020, 711-751.
• Malazonia M. Dvali G., Tabagari S., Tabagari N., Nutritional Status Assessment and Malnutrition Risk in Georgian Healthy Elderly, Georgian Medical News, 2019, 6 (291):67-73.
• Malazonia M. Dvali G., Tabagari S., Tabagari N., Direct measured and alternative anthropometric indices in Georgian healthy elderly: reliability/validity of assessment tools, Georgian Medical News, 2019, 5 (290):89-96
• Malazonia M. Dvali G., Tabagari S., Tabagari N., Development and adaptation of dietary assessment tools for elderly in Georgia, Georgian Medical News, 2019, 5 (290):85-89
• Malazonia M. Development of the necessary questionnaire for the dietary assessment of the nutritional status in older persons of Georgian population”, Methodical Guidance for Practitioners and Medical Researchers, Publisher: D. Tvildiani Medical University Press, Tbilisi 2018, 1-76.
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• Oncology, Malnutrition and the Nutritional Traffic Light: Onconutrition for Physicians, Cancer Patients, and Their Families/Caregivers
July 1, 2026 · Tbilisi, Georgia - Organized by GESPEN and the Georgian Patients’ Union, in collaboration with the cancer patient organization “Cancer – Raising Awareness,” with the participation of Europa Donna Georgia and HOPE.• Nutrition Traffic Light, Men;s Health and Age, Men;s Health International Congress “Gender Perspectives in Health and Ageing in the Changing World”, June 6-7, 2026, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Nutrition, Reproduction, and Age, 20th World Congress on Human Reproduction, Symposium and Workshop : “Infertility 35+…”, 18-21 September, 2025, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Intermittent Fasting and Interval Feeding in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, International Congress on Clinical Endocrinology, 28-29 June, 2025, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Nutrition Traffic Light for Skin - Multidisciplinary scientific conference "Invitation to Derma(syn)drome - for aesthetic endocrinology", November 11, 2023, Manavi, Georgia
• Nutrition and Oral Cavity - Bi-unique connection, International Dental Conference, April 29, 2023, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Oncology, Malnutrition and Nutrition Traffic Light, Georgian Cancer Research Group Conference, October 29, 2022, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Nutrition and Reproduction, International Conference on Reproductive Endocrinology, July 2-3, 2022, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Nutritional Status and Covid-19, Endocrinology in the Era of COVID-19, Online Conference, January 17, 2021, Georgia
• Lipid Profile and Dietary Anfas, International Symposium on Lipidology, December 14, 2019, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Nutrition model of the elderly, Multidisciplinary scientific conference, November 16, 2019, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Nutritional Status Assessment of in the Elderly, International Conference on Geriatric Endocrinology, May 25-26, 2019, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Malnutrition and modern approach, conference in Nutrition Science, May 21, 2019, Tbilisi
• Nutritional Status Assessment of in the Georgian Elderly, International Symposium on Nutrition, September 12-13, 2018, Tbilisi
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• Dementia, Malnutrition and Traffic Light, Webinar/Online Meeting for Occupational Therapists, Patients and their Family Members/Caregivers (Organized by GESPEN and Occupational Therapists Organization “Memory Café”), July 16, 2026, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Traffic Light for Nurses – Webinar (Organized by GESPEN and Georgian Nurses Association), May 12, 2026, Tbilisi, Georgia
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Nutritional status assessment and malnutrition risks:
• In Elderly (first 2009-2011)
• In dialysis patients (since 2022/continued, Currently In active phase)
• In pregnant women (2026)
• In rheumatoid arthritis (2026)
Working for better Nutrition and Health
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Research
Clinical nutrition research, nutritional assessment and national data.
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Clinical Practice
Supporting evidence-based nutritional assessment and multidisciplinary care.
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Education
Professional education, webinars, students and continuous learning.
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Public Health
Making reliable nutrition science accessible to patients, families and society.
Stronger together
Education & News
A new ICD-11 code for undernutrition in adults
In 2020, supported by >40 Nutrition Societies and the WHO ICD group, a new code (5B72) for undernutrition in adults was developed and will be implemented starting from 2027.
A major step for better recognition, diagnosis and care of undernutrition worldwide.
More detailed information in Georgian is currently being prepared by GESPEN for publication and will be shared with you in the near future.
5B72 Undernutrition in Adults
A new ICD-11 code, starting from 2027
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) by WHO is the global framework for classifying diseases and health conditions.
Until now, ICD-11 (replacing ICD-10) had no code relevant to undernutrition in adults.
When undernutrition is confirmed by the presence of a combination of phenotypic criteria (e.g. unintentional weight loss, low BMW, low muscle mass) and etiologic criteria (e.g. reduced food intake, disease, injury or inflammation).