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Neuropsychiatric Diseases in Children and Nutrition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 29507

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pierangelo Veggiotti

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Guest Editor

V. Buzzi Children Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Interests: drug-resistant epilepsy; rare diseases; pediatric neurology; ketogenic dietary therapies

Dr. Ludovica Pasca

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Guest Editor

University of Pavia
Interests: : drug-resistant epilepsy; focal epilepsy; neuroimaging of epilepsy; ketogenic dietary therapies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the new advances and future challenges of dietary therapies for childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorders.

Neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders are often characterized by a multifactorial etiology that contributes to the complexity of clinical manifestation, which are presented as an overlap of neurological and psychiatric symptoms. While traditional drug therapies are frequently effective, a personalized nutritional approach and dietary therapies might strengthen or replace traditional drug treatments in refractory cases. Moreover, both patients and their families and clinicians are now searching for new and individualized treatments.

Ketogenic dietary treatments have been effectively used in some cases of drug-resistant epilepsies and in chronic metabolic diseases, in addition to being assessed in a variety of other neurological conditions in both animal models and human trials. A ketogenic diet (KD) has been demonstrated to result in an improvement of both cognitive and motor functioning in animal models in the study of brain injury as well as in animal models of multiple sclerosis, showing an effect on memory impairment and inflammation. Comorbidities and overlapping manifestations between epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders might suggest some common underlying physiopathological features and thus imply the application of ketogenic dietary therapies.

However, the specific KD mechanism of action in neurological and psychiatric diseases is still poorly understood, therefore representing a stimulating and challenging research field.

The aim of this Special Issue is to outline the potential role of dietary therapies in child neuropsychiatric disorders other than seizure control, and even in terms of cognitive and behavioral improvement. The focus will be placed on the role of the ketogenic diet and nutritional therapeutic functions on both neurological (e.g., developing brain, epilepsy of different etiologies, headache, brain tumors) and psychiatric (e.g., ADHD and autism) diseases.

Addressing the link between brain function and nutrition would allow for a better definition of the pathological mechanism and specific therapeutic target for use in clinical practice.

Dr. Pierangelo Veggiotti
Dr. Ludovica Pasca
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Neuropsychiatric disorders
Brain development
Mental health
Epilepsy
Autism
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Headache
Multiple sclerosis
Brain cancer
Epigenetics
Intestinal microbiota
Ketogenic dietary therapies
Supplementation
Target therapy
Quality of life
Personalized nutrition

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Randomized Controlled Trial of Probiotic PS128 in Children with Tourette Syndrome

by Chang-Chun Wu, Lee-Chin Wong, Chia-Jui Hsu, Chianne-Wen Yang, Ying-Chieh Tsai, Feng-Shiang Cheng, Hsiao-Yun Hu and Wang-Tso Lee

Nutrients 2021, 13(11), 3698; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13113698 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 7042

Abstract

Tourette syndrome results from a complex interaction between social–environmental factors, multiple genetic abnormalities, and neurotransmitter disturbances. This study is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial using probiotics Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 as an intervention to examine if probiotics improve symptoms of children with Tourette syndrome. This study enrolled children aged 5 to 18 years old who fulfilled DSM-V diagnostic criteria for Tourette syndrome. Patients were assessed before initiating the trial, at one month, and at two months after randomization. The primary outcome was evaluated by Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), and the secondary outcome studied the possible comorbidities in these children. The results revealed no significant difference in improvement in YGTSS between the control group and the PS128 group. As for secondary endpoints, an analysis of Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) showed improvement in commission and detectability in the PS128 group. In conclusion, although probiotics may not have tic-reducing effects in children with Tourette syndrome, it may have benefits on comorbidities such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Further studies are needed to clarify the effects of probiotics on the comorbidities of Tourette syndrome children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric Diseases in Children and Nutrition)

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13 pages, 387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence and Clinical Features of Celiac Disease in a Cohort of Italian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

by Margherita Prosperi, Elisa Santocchi, Elena Brunori, Angela Cosenza, Raffaella Tancredi, Filippo Muratori and Sara Calderoni

Nutrients 2021, 13(9), 3046; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13093046 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2551

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions whose etiopathogenesis derives from a complex interaction between genetic liability and environmental factors. In this framework, mounting evidence suggests that immune system dysfunction could be a risk factor contributing to the development of ASD in at least a subpopulation of individuals. In particular, some studies suggest an association between celiac disease (CD)—a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine triggered by the ingestion of gluten—and ASD, while others hypothesized a random link. This investigation aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CD in a large sample of school-aged children with ASD and to characterize their clinical profile. Methods: Medical records of 405 children with ASD aged 5–11 years (mean age: 7.2 years; SD: 1.8 years) consecutively referred to a tertiary-care university hospital between January 2014 and December 2018 were reviewed; among them, 362 had carried out serological testing for CD. Results: Nine patients with positive CD serology were identified, eight of which satisfied the criteria for CD diagnosis. The estimated CD prevalence in ASD children was 2.18% (95% CI, 0.8–3.7), which was not statistically different (1.58%; p = 0.36) from that of an Italian population, matched for age range, considered as a control group (95% CI, 1.26–1.90). Three out of the eight ASD patients with CD did not have any symptoms suggestive of CD. Conclusions: Our findings did not show a higher prevalence of CD in ASD children than in the control population, but could suggest the utility of routine CD screening, given its frequent atypical clinical presentation in this population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric Diseases in Children and Nutrition)

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Review

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14 pages, 331 KiB

Open AccessReview

Truths and Myths in Pediatric Migraine and Nutrition

by Laura Papetti, Romina Moavero, Michela A. N. Ferilli, Giorgia Sforza, Samuela Tarantino, Fabiana Ursitti, Claudia Ruscitto, Federico Vigevano and Massimiliano Valeriani

Nutrients 2021, 13(8), 2714; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13082714 - 06 Aug 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6313

Abstract

The link between migraine and nutrition can be explored from several points of view. Lifestyle and, in particular, aspects of nutrition can have a significant impact on the course of pediatric migraine. In addition, some dietary treatments, such as the ketogenic diet, and some active ingredients present in foods (nutraceuticals) may have a therapeutic effect on migraine. A diet that can control weight gain and obesity has beneficial effects on migraine severity. On the other hand, when we talk about the link between nutrition and headaches, it is also necessary to point out that some public information is actually fake news that has no scientific basis. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the salient points linking pediatric migraine to nutritional principles, focusing on the relationship between weight and headaches, the therapeutic effect of food for medical purposes, the ketogenic diet as a migraine treatment, and the relationship between migraine and dietary habits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric Diseases in Children and Nutrition)

13 pages, 326 KiB

Open AccessReview

Experimental and Clinical Evidence of the Effectiveness of Riboflavin on Migraines

by Gaku Yamanaka, Shinji Suzuki, Natsumi Morishita, Mika Takeshita, Kanako Kanou, Tomoko Takamatsu, Shinichiro Morichi, Yu Ishida, Yusuke Watanabe, Soken Go, Shingo Oana and Hisashi Kawashima

Nutrients 2021, 13(8), 2612; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13082612 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6629

Abstract

Riboflavin, a water-soluble member of the B-vitamin family, plays a vital role in producing energy in mitochondria and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Migraine pathogenesis includes neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, riboflavin is increasingly being recognized for its preventive effects on migraines. However, there is no concrete evidence supporting its use because the link between riboflavin and migraines and the underlying mechanisms remains obscure. This review explored the current experimental and clinical evidence of conditions involved in migraine pathogenesis and discussed the role of riboflavin in inhibiting these conditions. Experimental research has demonstrated elevated levels of various oxidative stress markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines in migraines, and riboflavin’s role in reducing these marker levels. Furthermore, clinical research in migraineurs showed increased marker levels and observed riboflavin’s effectiveness in reducing migraines. These findings suggest that inflammation and oxidative stress are associated with migraine pathogenesis, and riboflavin may have neuroprotective effects through its clinically useful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress properties. Riboflavin’s safety and efficacy suggests its usefulness in migraine prophylaxis; however, insufficient evidence necessitates further study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric Diseases in Children and Nutrition)

15 pages, 645 KiB

Open AccessReview

Palmitoylethanolamide and Its Biobehavioral Correlates in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Human and Animal Evidence

by Marco Colizzi, Riccardo Bortoletto, Rosalia Costa and Leonardo Zoccante

Nutrients 2021, 13(4), 1346; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13041346 - 18 Apr 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6143

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pathophysiology is not completely understood; however, altered inflammatory response and glutamate signaling have been reported, leading to the investigation of molecules targeting the immune-glutamatergic system in ASD treatment. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a naturally occurring saturated N-acylethanolamine that has proven to be effective in controlling inflammation, depression, epilepsy, and pain, possibly through a neuroprotective role against glutamate toxicity. Here, we systematically reviewed all human and animal studies examining PEA and its biobehavioral correlates in ASD. Studies indicate altered serum/brain levels of PEA and other endocannabinoids (ECBs)/acylethanolamines (AEs) in ASD. Altered PEA signaling response to social exposure and altered expression/activity of enzymes responsible for the synthesis and catalysis of ECBs/AEs, as well as downregulation of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) and cannabinoid receptor target GPR55 mRNA brain expression, have been reported. Stress and exposure to exogenous cannabinoids may modulate ECBs/AEs levels and expression of candidate genes for neuropsychiatric disorders, with implications for ASD. Limited research suggests that PEA supplementation reduces overall autism severity by improving language and social and nonsocial behaviors. Potential neurobiological underpinnings include modulation of immune response, neuroinflammation, neurotrophy, apoptosis, neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, neurodegeneration, mitochondrial function, and microbiota activity, possibly through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) activation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric Diseases in Children and Nutrition)

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