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Nutrition Research in Brain and Neuroscience

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 3319

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Unità Spinale Unipolare, AO Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy
Interests: brain sciences; neurology; Parkinson’s disease; epilepsy; spinal cord injury; Alzheimer’s disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the dynamic and evolving intersection between nutrition and brain health, emphasizing how dietary components influence neurological development, function, and disease. We seek to gather high-quality original research, reviews, and clinical studies that illuminate the role of nutrients, dietary patterns, and metabolic processes in shaping cognitive performance, mental health, neuroprotection, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the gut–brain axis, neuroinflammation, the impact of specific nutrients (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins) on brain function, nutritional interventions in neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, depression), and mechanisms linking diet to neural plasticity and aging.

The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of current findings and foster interdisciplinary dialog among neuroscientists, nutritionists, clinicians, and public health researchers. Contributions that integrate molecular, clinical, and epidemiological perspectives are especially encouraged.

Dr. Loredana Raciti
Guest Editor

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

  • brain health
  • neurological development
  • gut–brain axis
  • neuroinflammation
  • neuroprotection
  • neurodegenerative disorders
  • neurological disorders
  • diet and nutrition
  • mental health
  • cognitive function
  • neural plasticity

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 19335 KB  
Article
Neurodevelopmental Changes in the Guinea Pig Brain Caused by Time-Limited Complete Vitamin C Deprivation
by Ivan Čapo, Ilija Andrijević, Nataša Čapo, Milan Popović, Ivan Milenković, Radomir Ratajac, Dejan Vranješ, Dragana Milutinović, Dragana Simin and Slobodan Sekulić
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3484; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213484 - 6 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The guinea pig is a unique experimental model because of the evolutionary loss of the GULO gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in vitamin C synthesis. Since vitamin C plays an essential role in collagen biochemistry, numerous studies have investigated the effects [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The guinea pig is a unique experimental model because of the evolutionary loss of the GULO gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in vitamin C synthesis. Since vitamin C plays an essential role in collagen biochemistry, numerous studies have investigated the effects of pre- and postnatal vitamin C deficiency. However, only a few studies, including ours, have indicated a possible link between vitamin C deprivation and potential weakening of the basement membrane, which may lead to significant alterations in brain structure. Methods: The experiment included guinea pig foetuses completely deprived from the 10th (E2 group) and the 20th (E1 group) to the 50th day of intrauterine life. Tissue samples from the cerebrum and cerebellum were taken for biochemical, molecular, and immunohistochemical analyses. Results: In the E2 group alone, we found marked gross changes: cerebral bleeding, porencephaly, and a lissencephalic cerebellar surface. Microscopic examination revealed diffuse bleeding in the cerebrum along with a loss of neurons in the area of the defect, specifically in the E2 group. The complete maturation of ectopic neurons characterised dysplastic changes in the cerebellum. Hydroxyproline analysis of both the cerebrum and cerebellum showed no significant differences among the E1, E2, and control groups. However, decreased expression of COL1, COL4A1, and SLC23A1 was observed solely in the cerebellar tissue of the E1 group. Conclusions: The morphological, biochemical, and molecular results represent preliminary associations with vitamin C deficiency, but require further validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Research in Brain and Neuroscience)
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Review

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15 pages, 1027 KB  
Review
Food in Migraine Management: Dietary Interventions in the Pathophysiology and Prevention of Headaches—A Narrative Review
by Tomasz Poboży, Kacper Janowski, Klaudia Michalak, Kamil Poboży, Julia Domańska-Poboża, Wojeciech Konarski and Iga Chuść
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3471; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213471 - 4 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background: Migraine is a common, disabling neurological disorder with substantial genetic and environmental contributions. Dietary exposures are widely discussed by patients and clinicians as potential triggers or modifiers of attack frequency and severity. We synthesized contemporary evidence on dietary patterns, specific nutrients, [...] Read more.
Background: Migraine is a common, disabling neurological disorder with substantial genetic and environmental contributions. Dietary exposures are widely discussed by patients and clinicians as potential triggers or modifiers of attack frequency and severity. We synthesized contemporary evidence on dietary patterns, specific nutrients, and elimination strategies relevant to migraine prevention and management. Methods: We performed a narrative review of PubMed and Google Scholar (inception–August 2025) using combinations of “migraine”, “diet”, “nutrition”, “ketogenic”, “Mediterranean”, “omega-3”, and “gluten”. We prioritized randomized/controlled studies, recent systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and representative observational studies; evidence quality and applicability were appraised descriptively. Results: Higher adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet is associated with lower migraine frequency and disability in observational cohorts. Very low-calorie ketogenic diets significantly reduced monthly migraine attack frequency compared with isocaloric non-ketogenic comparators in an adult randomized controlled trial of participants with overweight or obesity (≥50% responder rate: 74% vs. 6%). Additional supportive evidence from uncontrolled studies, including those involving medium-chain triglyceride supplementation, further corroborates these findings. Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) show prophylactic benefit in randomized trials and network meta-analyses, with favorable tolerability. Gluten-free diets may improve headaches in celiac disease and may help selected non-celiac patients. Alcohol (especially red wine) and high, irregular caffeine intake are frequently reported triggers, while evidence for specific foods/additives remains inconsistent. Weight loss and regular physical activity may further reduce burden in people with obesity. Conclusions: Current evidence supports recommending Mediterranean-style eating, consideration of omega-3 supplementation, and selective trials of ketogenic or elimination approaches in appropriate patients, alongside weight management and lifestyle optimization. High-quality, longer-duration RCTs using standardized dietary protocols and adherence biomarkers are needed to define dose–response relationships and enable personalized nutrition in migraine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Research in Brain and Neuroscience)
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