Supplements and Drug-Based Strategies in Neonatal and Paediatric Health
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 1500
Special Issue Editor
Interests: resveratrol; gut microbiota; metabolites; metabolism; Alzheimer’s disease; retina; diabetes; nutrition; pharmacology; gastrointestinal diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The use of supplements and pharmacological agents in neonatal and paediatric patients is a growing area of research, yet many of their molecular mechanisms and clinical outcomes remain incompletely understood. The early stages of life—from the neonatal period through to late childhood—are characterised by rapid developmental changes in the immune, neurological, and metabolic systems, as well as in the gut microbiota, all of which can significantly influence the safety and efficacy of both nutrients and drugs.
This Special Issue aims to collate studies that provide molecular-level insights into how food supplements, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals affect health and disease in the paediatric and neonatal population. We welcome contributions that address the following topics:
- The modulation of immune responses and infectious disease outcomes;
- The role of the microbiota in shaping systemic responses to therapies;
- The effects of interventions on neurological and neurodevelopmental mechanisms;
- Drug–nutrient interactions and their molecular consequences;
- Approaches to personalised supplementation or pharmacotherapy.
In addition to reports of original findings, we also encourage submissions of critical and mechanistic reviews that focus on controversial or underexplored aspects, such as the appropriateness of certain bioactives or supplements for neonates and children; challenges in establishing optimal dosages and delivery routes; and evidence gaps and regulatory grey areas in paediatric integrative therapies.
Led by Dr. Giulia Malaguarnera, with the assistance of Dr. Roberta Leonardi and Dr. Manuela Lo Bianco (University of Catania), we aim to build a collection that not only presents new data, but also questions existing practices and helps to clarify how we can move toward safer, more effective, and mechanistically informed strategies in child and neonatal healthcare.
Dr. Giulia Malaguarnera
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- neonatal pharmacology
- paediatric supplements
- nutraceuticals in early life
- microbiota–host interactions
- infectious diseases in children
- neurodevelopmental disorders
- drug–nutrient interactions
- dosing and delivery routes
- molecular paediatrics
- critical analysis of paediatric interventions
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