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Nutrition in Neurogastroenterology

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026 | Viewed by 1657

Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: nutrition in gastroenteropancreatic disorders

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: neurogastroenterology; gut–brain axis; disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBIs); nutrition therapy in GI disorders; microbiota; probiotics; functional dyspepsia; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce this Special Issue of Nutrients, entitled ‘Nutrition in Neurogastroenterology’.

In recent years, the interplay between nutrition, the gut, and the nervous system has become an emerging field of research, with important implications for both gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal health. The gut–brain axis (GBA), microbiota modulation, dietary interventions, and the role of nutrients in Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction (DGBIs) are gaining increasing attention in both clinical and translational research.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide an updated overview of how nutrition influences neurogastroenterological function and disease. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The role of dietary patterns and nutrients in DGBIs, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, chronic constipation, and functional diarrhea, among others defined by the Rome IV criteria.
  • Nutrition and the GBA: mechanisms, mediators, and clinical implications.
  • Microbiota-targeted nutritional strategies, probiotics, and prebiotics.
  • The psychological and behavioral aspects of diet in GBA interactions.

We warmly invite you to contribute original research articles, reviews, clinical trials, and translational studies that address these aspects of nutrition in neurogastroenterology.

We anticipate that this Special Issue will serve as a platform to foster discussion and collaboration, and will expand our current knowledge on the impact of nutrition in neurogastroenterology.

Dr. Carola Severi
Dr. Emanuela Ribichini
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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

  • gut–brain axis (GBA)
  • disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBIs)
  • gastrointestinal disorders
  • microbiota and nutrition
  • dietary interventions
  • nutritional therapy
  • neurogastroenterology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 10807 KB  
Article
Effects of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Supplementation on Symptoms, Quality of Life, Intestinal Permeability, Systemic Inflammation and Gut Microbiota in Patients with IBS-D: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Pilot Study
by Christian Lambiase, Lorenzo Cancelli, Riccardo Tedeschi, Antonio Grosso, Francesco Rettura, Rebecca Salemmo, Andrea Bottari, Fabio Filippini, Stefano Salvadori, Giulia Valdiserra, Letizia Campigli, Luca Antonioli, Matteo Fornai, Nicola de Bortoli and Massimo Bellini
Nutrients 2026, 18(10), 1569; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101569 - 14 May 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1246
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Recent studies have shown that GABA reduces visceral hypersensitivity and improves intestinal permeability in a post-inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rat model. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a GABA-based supplement in IBS patients with diarrhea (IBS-D), focusing on symptoms relief, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Recent studies have shown that GABA reduces visceral hypersensitivity and improves intestinal permeability in a post-inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rat model. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a GABA-based supplement in IBS patients with diarrhea (IBS-D), focusing on symptoms relief, quality-of-life improvement, mucosal barrier function, systemic microinflammation and gut microbiota. Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 20 IBS-D patients were randomized to receive GABA or placebo for two four-week treatment periods separated by a two-week washout. Efficacy was assessed using IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) and Short-Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36). Circulating levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β were measured before and after each treatment. Results: Eighteen patients completed the study. A clinical response (≥50-point reduction in IBS-SSS) was observed in 66.7% of patients during GABA treatment versus 33.3% with placebo. GABA produced a significant reduction in the IBS-SSS total score (p = 0.02) and in the bowel satisfaction item of the questionnaire (p = 0.02). Regarding quality of life, GABA significantly improved the “Emotional limitation” domain compared with placebo (p = 0.009). GABA treatment also led to a decrease in circulating LBP (p = 0.06) and IL-1β (p = 0.02) levels compared to placebo, although only the reduction in IL-1β reached statistical significance. In contrast, no substantial remodeling of the gut microbiota was observed. Conclusions: In this pilot study, GABA treatment led to a significant improvement in IBS-D symptoms compared with placebo and was also more effective in enhancing emotional wellbeing. GABA appeared to have a possible effect on intestinal permeability indirectly assessed through LBP, consistent with preclinical findings, and significantly reduced systemic inflammation. GABA may represent a promising therapeutic option for IBS, deserving further investigation in larger clinical trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in Neurogastroenterology)
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