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Nutrients
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Interactions Between Early Nutrition, Early Environment, and Immunity
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Interactions Between Early Nutrition, Early Environment, and Immunity

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2025 | Viewed by 16861

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Cevdet Ozdemir

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Child Health, Department of Pediatric Basic Sciences, Istanbul University, Beyazıt, Istanbul 34452, Turkey
Interests: pediatric; allergy; immunology; regulatory T cells; allergen specific immunotherapy mechanisms
Dr. Emilia Vassilopoulou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
2. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
3. Nous Therapy Center, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece
4. The Center of Nutritional Psychology, San Jose, CA 95129, USA
Interests: food allergy/intolerance; immunomodulation and nutrition; gut–brain axis; nutritional psychiatry; inflammaging; food histamine; food proteins; diet; nutrition; eating disorders; immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The first 1000 days of life, including the intrauterine period, are critical for the development of a healthy immune system. During this time, both nutrition and environmental exposures play essential roles in shaping immune function. Specific nutrients, dietary patterns, and environmental factors impact the composition of the intestinal microbiota, which in turn has a decisive influence on immune system functionality throughout life.

This special issue aims to highlight the complex interactions between early-life nutrition, environmental factors, and immune health. We welcome a diverse range of original studies—such as in vivo and in vitro research, case studies, cohort studies, and reviews—that explore how these interactions contribute to immune-related conditions across the lifespan. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, allergies, infections, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, neuroimmune disorders, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

Prof. Dr. Cevdet Ozdemir
Dr. Emilia Vassilopoulou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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

  • immune system development
  • microbiota composition
  • first 1000 days
  • infant immunity
  • nutritional immunology
  • environmental exposures
  • dietary patterns
  • immune-related diseases
  • allergy prevention
  • autoimmune diseases
  • neuroimmune health
  • metabolic syndrome
  • immune programming
  • obesity
  • growth

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 245 KiB  
Article
Iron Deficiency Prevalence in Bulgarian Children with Cerebral Palsy and Autism: A Call for Nutritional Interventions to Support Development
by Rositsa Chamova, Silviya Nikolova, Albena Toneva, Rozalina Braykova, Stanislava Hadzhieva, Yana Bocheva and Rouzha Pancheva
Nutrients 2025, 17(12), 1969; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17121969 - 10 Jun 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Iron plays an important role in cognitive, behavioral, and motor development. This study aims to assess the iron nutritional status of Bulgarian children with cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on iron deficiency (ID) and its impact on [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Iron plays an important role in cognitive, behavioral, and motor development. This study aims to assess the iron nutritional status of Bulgarian children with cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on iron deficiency (ID) and its impact on children’s development. We hypothesized that children with CP and ASD suffer from iron deficiency. Methods: The cross-sectional study includes 95 children from northeastern Bulgaria. Data were collected in two periods (2017–2018 and 2023–2024). Demographic questionnaires, food frequency questionnaires, and laboratory tests for hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, serum albumin, and CRP were conducted. Anthropometric measurements were evaluated. The Gross Motor Function Classification System scale was used to assess motor function in children with CP. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi software, ver. 2.6.44, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Of the 95 children, 62.1% had CP and 37.9% had ASD. Most children had normal hemoglobin and serum iron levels, but 62.7% of those with CP and 36.8% of those with ASD had low serum ferritin levels, indicating latent ID. A higher proportion of children with CP than those with ASD consumed meat daily, while fish was more commonly consumed by children with ASD. Anthropometric data showed delayed growth and lower height-for-age scores in children with CP. Conclusions: The study identifies latent ID in children with CP and ASD. An evaluation of dietary habits highlights the need for interventions to improve nutritional status and development. The observed deficiencies emphasize the need for regular monitoring and targeted dietary programs for children in these groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions Between Early Nutrition, Early Environment, and Immunity)
16 pages, 1275 KiB  
Article
From Mother–Fetus Dyad to Mother–Milk–Infant Triad: Sex Differences in Macronutrient Composition of Breast Milk
by Maria Lithoxopoulou, Calliope Karastogiannidou, Anastasia Karagkiozi, Iliani Eleni Zafeiriadou, Ekaterini Pilati, Elisavet Diamanti, Stavros Kalogiannis and Emilia Vassilopoulou
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1422; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091422 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 15776
Abstract
Background: The composition of breast milk is influenced by a variety of factors, including maternal anthropometric characteristics, dietary and lifestyle habits, and lactation and feeding parameters. Emerging evidence also suggests that an infant’s sex may play a role in shaping breast milk composition. [...] Read more.
Background: The composition of breast milk is influenced by a variety of factors, including maternal anthropometric characteristics, dietary and lifestyle habits, and lactation and feeding parameters. Emerging evidence also suggests that an infant’s sex may play a role in shaping breast milk composition. Objective: This study aims to investigate the macronutrient composition of early breast milk up to 3 months postpartum, with a particular focus on potential differences related to the infant’s sex. Methods: A total of 102 breast milk samples were collected at four time points across three lactation stages, representing colostrum, transitional, and mature milk, from a cohort consisting of 51 consenting mothers of Mediterranean origin who met the inclusion criteria. The samples were analyzed using mid-infrared spectroscopy to determine their macronutrient composition. Results: Colostrum from mothers of male infants contained approximately 60% higher levels of nitrogenous compounds, crude protein, true protein, and non-protein nitrogen compared to colostrum from mothers of female infants. Transitional milk for female infants contained higher fat, total solids, and energy. No significant differences in macronutrient composition were observed in mature milk between the sexes. For both sexes, colostrum contained more nitrogenous compounds and fewer total solids than mature milk. Male colostrum had lower carbohydrate levels compared to the later stages of lactation, while female samples showed no significant changes. Strong positive correlations between fat and crude protein were found for both sexes during the transitional and mature milk stages. In male colostrum, all macronutrients were interrelated. Conclusions: The observed differences in the composition of colostrum and transitional breast milk for male and female neonates suggest potential sex-specific nutritional adaptations during early lactation. These findings may have implications for personalized infant nutrition strategies in cases where breast feeding is hampered, as well as for understanding early neonatal adaptations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions Between Early Nutrition, Early Environment, and Immunity)
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13 pages, 233 KiB  
Article
Bridging the Gap: Awareness, Knowledge, and Challenges of Living with Celiac Disease in Bulgaria
by Rouzha Pancheva, Jernej Dolinsek, Marlena Panayotova, Ivan Yankov, Denitza Kofinova, Silviya Nikolova, Mila Baycheva and Miglena Georgieva
Nutrients 2025, 17(7), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071267 - 4 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 719
Abstract
Background: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated systemic disorder induced by gluten in genetically predisposed individuals, requiring lifelong management through a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). Although its global prevalence is around 1%, awareness and diagnosis remain suboptimal, contributing to challenges in disease [...] Read more.
Background: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated systemic disorder induced by gluten in genetically predisposed individuals, requiring lifelong management through a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). Although its global prevalence is around 1%, awareness and diagnosis remain suboptimal, contributing to challenges in disease management. Objectives: To assess the awareness, knowledge, and experiences of Bulgarian CD patients and caregivers regarding CD, diagnosis, and dietary adherence. Methods: A structured survey was conducted to evaluate patient and caregiver knowledge, awareness, and experiences with CD, focusing on the diagnostic process and dietary practices. Data were collected from a sample of Bulgarian CD patients and their caregivers. Results: The majority of the 191 respondents (94%) recognized CD as a lifelong condition, but only 26.7% correctly identified its autoimmune, systemic nature. The average diagnostic delay was 8.1 months, with over 50% of patients relying on serological tests alone, consistent with recent non-biopsy guidelines. Dietary adherence was significantly hindered by misconceptions about gluten-containing grains and societal barriers. Notably, 83.6% of participants reported bringing their own food when eating outside. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for targeted public health initiatives, enhanced healthcare provider training, and improved dietary education to address knowledge gaps, expedite diagnosis, and improve dietary adherence. Such interventions could help reduce the psychosocial burden of CD and enhance the quality of life for affected individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions Between Early Nutrition, Early Environment, and Immunity)
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