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Therapeutic Opportunities for Food Supplements in Neurodegenerative Disease

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 May 2024 | Viewed by 8348

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Andrea Domenico Praticò

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Guest Editor

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95040 Catania, Italy
Interests: neurology; childhood neurology; neurogenetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many epidemiologic studies report a protective association between a balanced and adequate diet and cognitive impairment, brain health and neurodegenerative diseases. At the same time, data from clinical trials supporting these observational findings are also emerging, in particular in childhood and neonatal ages.

The neuroprotective properties may be linked directly to caloric restrictions or to some neuroprotective properties of food (in long-chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and mineral elements).

Preventive interventions on neuroinflammation seem to be able to interfere with neurodegeneration, enhancing antioxidative defense, and lowering the risk and incidence of age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. It should be noticed that dietary supplementation-based strategies have been demonstrated to be effective in subjects with mild cognitive impairment, or directly in metabolic disorders in whom a specific enzymatic deficit may require specific dietary restrictions.

In some studies, adjunctive supplementation has also been demonstrated to improve depression, this being of marked benefit considering the comorbidity between cognitive impairment/dementia and depression

Dr. Andrea Domenico Praticò
Guest Editor

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Keywords

neurological Disorders
neurodegenerative disorders
diet
food
free radicals
anti-oxidants

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 7249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interpreting the Mechanism of Active Ingredients in Polygonati Rhizoma in Treating Depression by Combining Systemic Pharmacology and In Vitro Experiments

by Xin Wei, Dan Wang, Jiajia Liu, Qizhi Zhu, Ziming Xu, Jinzhe Niu and Weiping Xu

Nutrients 2024, 16(8), 1167; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu16081167 - 14 Apr 2024

Viewed by 331

Abstract

Polygonati Rhizoma (PR) has certain neuroprotective effects as a homology of medicine and food. In this study, systematic pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments were integrated to verify the antidepressant active ingredients in PR and their mechanisms. A total of seven compounds in PR were found to be associated with 45 targets of depression. Preliminarily, DFV docking with cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) showed good affinity. In vitro, DFV inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation of BV-2 cells, reversed amoeba-like morphological changes, and increased mitochondrial membrane potential. DFV reversed the malondialdehyde (MDA) overexpression and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression inhibition in LPS-induced BV-2 cells and decreased interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6 mRNA expression levels in a dose-dependent manner. DFV inhibited both mRNA and protein expression levels of COX2 induced by LPS, and the activation of NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and caspase1 was suppressed, thus exerting an antidepressant effect. This study proves that DFV may be an important component basis for PR to play an antidepressant role. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Opportunities for Food Supplements in Neurodegenerative Disease)

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19 pages, 4817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ellagic Acid Prevents α-Synuclein Spread and Mitigates Toxicity by Enhancing Autophagic Flux in an Animal Model of Parkinson’s Disease

by Nada Radwan, Engila Khan, Mustafa T. Ardah, Tohru Kitada and M. Emdadul Haque

Nutrients 2024, 16(1), 85; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu16010085 - 26 Dec 2023

Viewed by 970

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurological disorder, pathologically characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) as well as the formation of Lewy bodies composed mainly of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates. It has been documented that abnormal aggregation of α-syn is one of the major causes of developing PD. In the current study, administration of ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic compound (10 mg/kg bodyweight), significantly decreased α-syn spreading and preserved dopaminergic neurons in a male C57BL/6 mouse model of PD. Moreover, EA altered the autophagic flux, suggesting the involvement of a restorative mechanism meditated by EA treatment. Our data support that EA could play a major role in the clearing of toxic α-syn from spreading, in addition to the canonical antioxidative role, and thus preventing dopaminergic neuronal death. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Opportunities for Food Supplements in Neurodegenerative Disease)

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15 pages, 498 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neurodevelopment and Dietary Intake in Toddlers—A Cross-Sectional Study from the Healthy Children 2021 Project

by Micaela Cunha-Rodrigues, Rafaela Rosário, Ana Duarte, Maria José Silva, Cláudia Augusto, Mónica Rodrigues, Patrícia Padrão and Pedro Moreira

Nutrients 2023, 15(24), 5105; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15245105 - 14 Dec 2023

Viewed by 2187

Abstract

Little is known about the potential associations between neurodevelopment, dietary diversity and food processing in the toddler period. This study aimed to estimate the association between these dietary quality dimensions and neurodevelopment in toddlers. Data for this cross-sectional analysis came from the Healthy Children 2021 project and included 212 toddlers (51.9% females, aged 12–36 months) from 15 Portuguese childcare centers. Neurodevelopment was assessed through Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. Dietary intake was gathered by a two-day non-consecutive dietary recall. The food items were categorised with NOVA classification. Dietary diversity was explored through Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD). Logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders were performed. Girls with a higher energy contribution of unprocessed/minimally processed foods and with an above median MDD score had higher odds of achieving a higher neurodevelopment score (aOR:1.04; 95%CI 1.01; 1.08 and aOR:2.26; 95%CI 1.01; 5.06, respectively); no significant association was observed in boys. Our findings suggest that these dietary dimensions are associated with a higher neurodevelopment in toddler girls. This should be further studied as a possible early link between dietary factors and neurodevelopment. Promotion of healthy eating can be promising in improving neurocognitive development and might help to introduce public health recommendations for toddlers’ nutrition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Opportunities for Food Supplements in Neurodegenerative Disease)

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15 pages, 1908 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preventive Treatment with Astaxanthin Microencapsulated with Spirulina Powder, Administered in a Dose Range Equivalent to Human Consumption, Prevents LPS-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Rats

by Miquel Martin, Matteo M. Pusceddu, Joan Teichenné, Teresa Negra, Alan Connolly, Xavier Escoté, Helena Torrell Galceran, Adrià Cereto Massagué, Iris Samarra Mestre, Antoni del Pino Rius, Jordi Romero-Gimenez, Cristina Egea, Juan Maria Alcaide-Hidalgo and Josep Maria del Bas

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 2854; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15132854 - 23 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1264

Abstract

Cognitive alterations are a common feature associated with many neurodegenerative diseases and are considered a major health concern worldwide. Cognitive alterations are triggered by microglia activation and oxidative/inflammatory processes in specific areas of the central nervous system. Consumption of bioactive compounds with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, such as astaxanthin and spirulina, can help in preventing the development of these pathologies. In this study, we have investigated the potential beneficial neuroprotective effects of a low dose of astaxanthin (ASX) microencapsulated within spirulina (ASXSP) in female rats to prevent the cognitive deficits associated with the administration of LPS. Alterations in memory processing were evaluated in the Y-Maze and Morris Water Maze (MWM) paradigms. Changes in microglia activation and in gut microbiota content were also investigated. Our results demonstrate that LPS modified long-term memory in the MWM and increased microglia activation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Preventive treatment with ASXSP ameliorated LPS-cognitive alterations and microglia activation in both brain regions. Moreover, ASXSP was able to partially revert LPS-induced gut dysbiosis. Our results demonstrate the neuroprotective benefits of ASX when microencapsulated with spirulina acting through different mechanisms, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and, probably, prebiotic actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Opportunities for Food Supplements in Neurodegenerative Disease)

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Review

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19 pages, 1955 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Potential Use of Honey as a Neuroprotective Agent for the Management of Neurodegenerative Diseases

by Mohammad Adi Mohammad Fadzil, Suraiami Mustar and Aswir Abd Rashed

Nutrients 2023, 15(7), 1558; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15071558 - 23 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3076

Abstract

As the global population ages, there is an increasing research on managing neurodegenerative diseases that mainly affect the elderly. Honey is one of the natural products and functional foods widely studied for its neuroprotective properties. This review investigates honey’s effectiveness as a neuroprotective agent through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research. The articles were browsed from three databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus) between the years of 2012 and 2022 using the keywords “honey” crossed with “neurodegenerative”. Out of the 16 articles, six in vitro, eight in vivo, one combination study, and one clinical intervention were compiled. Among the various types of honey studied, the Tualang and Thyme honey exhibited the highest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticholinesterase activity, leading to the prevention and management of multiple neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The neuroprotective properties of honey are primarily attributed to its high polyphenol content, with quercetin and gallic acid being the most prominent. This review compiled considerable evidence of the anti-neurodegenerative properties of honey presented by in vitro and in vivo studies. However, more clinical intervention studies are required to support these findings further. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Opportunities for Food Supplements in Neurodegenerative Disease)

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