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Nutrients
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The Relationship Between Neurodevelopment and Nutritional Intake
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The Relationship Between Neurodevelopment and Nutritional Intake

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 5107

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Rosaria Nardello

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Interests: environmental factors; nutrition; neurodevelopmental disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neurodevelopmental disorders represent a group of heterogeneous conditions, with onset during the developmental period, characterized by an alteration to communication and social skills, learning, adaptive behavior, executive functions, and psychomotor skills. These deficits determine an impairment in personal, social, scholastic, or occupational functioning.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by increased incidence and a multifactorial etiology, including genetic and environmental components.

In addition to genetic factors, nutritional factors play a significant role in the pathophysiology of these disorders. The role of nutrition has been widely studied in many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, but research is ongoing on the effects of nutrition on embryonic brain development and the possible onset of neurodevelopmental disorders. Food intake can influence neurodevelopmental disorders through multiple pathways. This Special Issue will showcase papers that address this complex topic.

Dr. Rosaria Nardello
Guest Editor

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-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

  • environmental factors
  • nutrition
  • neurodevelopmental disorders
  • cognitive development
  • developmental pediatrics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 406 KB  
Article
Associations Between Serum Selenium, Zinc, and Copper Levels and Cognitive Function in the Elderly
by Piangporn Charernwat, Sirintorn Chansirikarnjana, Pachara Panpunuan, Piyamitr Sritara and Jintana Sirivarasai
Nutrients 2025, 17(24), 3872; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17243872 - 11 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1605
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cognitive decline in older people is greatly affected by various risk factors, especially imbalances in trace elements. This study aimed to examine the relationships between serum levels of selenium, zinc, and copper and cognitive impairment. This study included 854 participants aged 63 [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cognitive decline in older people is greatly affected by various risk factors, especially imbalances in trace elements. This study aimed to examine the relationships between serum levels of selenium, zinc, and copper and cognitive impairment. This study included 854 participants aged 63 to 85 years. Methods: We conducted clinical assessments of metabolic disorders and measured serum levels of selenium, zinc, and copper. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini-Cog test. Results: The primary analysis identified significant differences (all p < 0.05) in age, body mass index, waist circumference, various metabolic parameters (such as fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and plasma triglyceride levels) and some cardiometabolic indices between the groups with and without cognitive impairment. Further assessments using multiple logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an association between increased serum selenium and zinc levels and a protective effect against cognitive impairment. In contrast, elevated serum copper levels were identified as a risk factor for cognitive impairment. This analysis also demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, along with established cut-off levels for all of the trace elements studied. Conclusions: The Mini-Cog test is an effective cognitive screening test for the older population. Our findings establish a significant association between the balanced status of key antioxidant trace elements and cognitive health. Specifically, adequate serum selenium and zinc levels are associated with enhanced cognitive performance, while elevated copper may indicate a pro-oxidant state detrimental to cognitive function. Consequently, these three elements offer promise as practical, accessible biomarkers for the early identification and risk stratification of individuals susceptible to cognitive impairment. Future research should prioritize clinical trials focused on targeted nutritional strategies—specifically optimizing dietary intake and/or supplementation of selenium and zinc while carefully managing copper balance—as a viable primary prevention approach to reduce the global burden of cognitive decline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Neurodevelopment and Nutritional Intake)
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Review

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14 pages, 521 KB  
Review
Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Quality of Life in Parkinson Disease: An Integrative Review
by Maria Giulia Golob, Stefano Mancin, Diego Lopane, Chiara Coldani, Daniela Cattani, Alessandra Dacomi, Giuseppina Tomaiuolo, Fabio Petrelli, Giovanni Cangelosi, Simone Cosmai, Alice Maria Santagostino and Beatrice Mazzoleni
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3343; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213343 - 24 Oct 2025
Viewed by 3161
Abstract
Background/Aims: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms that significantly impair quality of life (QoL). Oxidative stress (OS) and neuroinflammation play a key role in its progression. The [...] Read more.
Background/Aims: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms that significantly impair quality of life (QoL). Oxidative stress (OS) and neuroinflammation play a key role in its progression. The ketogenic diet (KD) may have neuroprotective effects by reducing these factors through ketosis. The primary aim of this narrative review is to examine the impact of the ketogenic diet on the quality of life and symptomatology of patients with PD, evaluating its effects on motor and non-motor symptoms, as well as on certain metabolic parameters. Secondary aims included assessing the feasibility of and adherence to the diet, as well as its tolerability and safety. Methods: A search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane databases up to June 2025 was performed. Eligible studies included adults with PD following a KD regimen. Data were extracted regarding QoL outcomes, adverse events, and risk of bias included for synthesis. Results: A total of 152 patients were included across 6 studies. KD showed a small to moderate effect size on QoL improvements, particularly in non-motor domains such as fatigue and sleep quality. However, findings were inconsistent across studies. Risk of bias was rated moderate to high due to small sample sizes, heterogeneous methodologies, and lack of blinding. The most frequently reported adverse events were gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, constipation), weight loss, and transient fatigue. Conclusions: Although preliminary evidence suggests a potential benefit of KD on QoL in PD patients, the small number of participants, short follow-up, and high heterogeneity significantly limit generalizability. Further large, controlled trials with rigorous methodology are warranted before relevant conclusion benefits can be drawn. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Neurodevelopment and Nutritional Intake)
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