Nutrition in Children's Growth and Development: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Based on the success of first volume of this Special Issue, ‘Nutrition in Children's Growth and Development’ (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients/special_issues/47FJC2KYB4), we hereby announce the second edition. 

As children’s growth and nutrition involves complex biological processes, requiring adequate nutrient intake, continuous efforts are made by non-governmental, non-profit organizations each year to reduce the incidence of malnutrition in vulnerable areas, as it can significantly hinder neuro-psychomotor development. Moreover, nutrient and vitamin deficiencies can be responsible for isolated symptoms or can silently evolve for years before causing a variety of issues such as concentration problems, neuropsychiatric disorders, or a predisposition towards infections. Iron and vitamin D deficiency still remain the most common deficiencies at both pediatric and adult ages. 

Early childhood nutritional status is greatly impacted by the mother’s pre-conceptional and pregnancy nutrition, her anthropometric parameters, and pregnancy-related weight gain. Recent data show how maternal nutrition influences the first 1000 days of a child’s life, affecting their neuro-developmental stages. 

Inappropriate, imbalanced nutrition and excessive caloric intake can lead to obesity. Unfortunately, obesity is currently considered a pandemic at pediatric ages as well, and its adulthood-related complications seem to trace back to adolescence. Pediatric obesity and the nutritional patterns that lead to its development constitute one of the most researched topics. 

Dietary patterns are responsible for changes within the gut microbiome and for its variability. Unanswered questions remain about the relationship between nutritional status and the microbiome imbalances that can be causative of gastrointestinal disorders, although significant progress has been made in this regard. 

Ultimately, nutrition is responsible for a child’s health and for their normal growth and development. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to showcase reviews and research articles from pediatricians, obstetricians, and nutritionists from a global scale, focusing on the causality between dietary patterns, maternal diet, and children’s health. Moreover, this Special Issue will also cover topics related to nutrient and vitamin deficiencies, microbiome imbalances, and their impact on children’s well-being and anthropometric parameters.

Prof. Dr. Cristina Oana Marginean
Dr. Maria Oana Săsăran
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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