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Nutrition, Sleep, Physical Activity and Mood Disorders

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2023) | Viewed by 14048

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Clinical Psychology, Clinical Psychophysiology and Clinical Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Interests: nutrition; psychopathology; mental illness; mood disorders; clinical health psychology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mood disorders are a major global health issue. It is estimated that approximately 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, with a calculated for the entire population about to 4.5%. Moreover, it is well known that some stressful factors can affect a large category of people at the same time. For instance, the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has generated a significant increase in stress levels into the general population. One more factor to be considered is that number of people who could be affected by mood disorders is subject to wide variation because of constitutional and personality characteristics. As mental health is certainly an important public health issue with a lot of fallout in the socio-political and economic fields, specific policy of prevention are ever necessary. One of the most important preventive factors, without doubt, is the supplementation of food-derived materials, integrated in the usual food intake, obviously, together with engagement in physical activity, sleep quality, and, last but not least, the presence of rewarding activities in the lifetime. It is possible that all of these factors can balance the biological needs as well as mood and behavior, with potentially beneficial effects for people. For instance, it can be possible to reduce risk factors of relapses, in case of depression, or intensity/gravity of distress, in case of moderate expression of the symptoms. Further research are in any case needed to obtain further and incontrovertible data on these positive effects on human wellbeing.

On this topic, you are invited to submit proposals for manuscripts that fit the objectives and the topics of this Special Issue.

The objective of this proposed Special Issue on “Nutrition, Sleep, Physical Activity and Mood Disorders” is to publish selected papers detailing specific aspects of nutrition and other lifestyle precautions, such as sleep quality and participation in physical activity that could play a role in preventing and intervening on mood disorders, both in adults, elderly subjects, and young patients. Particularly, papers (reviews and/or clinical or experimental studies) dealing with the role of specific nutrients on mood, and also contributions addressing their indirect effects through the involvement of specific cerebral neurotransmitters, will be included.

Dr. Carlo Pruneti
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 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

  • nutrition
  • sleep
  • physical activity
  • mood disorders

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 961 KiB  
Article
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition, Sleep, Physical Activity, and Mood Disorders of Polish Children
by Karolina Krupa-Kotara, Gabriela Wojtas, Mateusz Grajek, Martina Grot, Mateusz Rozmiarek, Agata Wypych-Ślusarska, Klaudia Oleksiuk, Joanna Głogowska-Ligus and Jerzy Słowiński
Nutrients 2023, 15(8), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081928 - 17 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1795
Abstract
The harmful consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on children are its impact on eating habits, physical activity, sleep, and mood disorders. In the future, this may result in a higher prevalence of obesity and diet-related diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the [...] Read more.
The harmful consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on children are its impact on eating habits, physical activity, sleep, and mood disorders. In the future, this may result in a higher prevalence of obesity and diet-related diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s eating behavior and lifestyle. The study was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire on dietary and lifestyle habits before and during the pandemic, and the reasons for changes due to the pandemic. The study involved 294 parents of children in grades 1–8 in elementary schools in two regions of Poland. The survey showed that during the pandemic, the percentage of children eating five regular meals daily, including fruits and vegetables, and engaging in daily physical activity decreased. However, the percentage of children spending more than 4 h a day in front of a screen increased (p < 0.05). The main reasons for changes in eating habits and physical activity were less eating out, lack of motivation, obstruction, and lack of access to sports facilities (p < 0.05). The pandemic had a significant impact on reduced levels of physical activity and increased time spent in front of a screen. In summary, among the reasons for changes in children’s dietary and lifestyle habits, factors related to the pandemic itself, i.e., social restrictions, restrictions, closure of schools and other facilities, and fear of coronavirus infection, had the greatest impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Sleep, Physical Activity and Mood Disorders)
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17 pages, 792 KiB  
Article
Do Poor Diet and Lifestyle Behaviors Modify the Genetic Susceptibility to Impulsivity in the General Population?
by Tian Xie, Lizanne J. S. Schweren, Henrik Larsson, Lin Li, Ebba Du Rietz, Jan Haavik, Liv Grimstvedt Kvalvik, Berit Skretting Solberg, Kari Klungsøyr, Harold Snieder and Catharina A. Hartman
Nutrients 2023, 15(7), 1625; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071625 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1891
Abstract
The present study investigated whether an unhealthy diet and other lifestyle behaviors may modify the genetic susceptibility to impulsivity. A total of 33,047 participants (mean age = 42.1 years, 59.8% females) from the Dutch Lifelines cohort were included. Each diet index and other [...] Read more.
The present study investigated whether an unhealthy diet and other lifestyle behaviors may modify the genetic susceptibility to impulsivity. A total of 33,047 participants (mean age = 42.1 years, 59.8% females) from the Dutch Lifelines cohort were included. Each diet index and other lifestyle behaviors were tested for their interactions on the effect on the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) polygenic risk score (PRS) on impulsivity using a linear regression model with adjustment for covariates. The ADHD PRS was significantly associated with impulsivity (B = 0.03 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.04); p = 2.61 × 10−9). A poorer diet, a higher intake of energy, and a higher intake of fat were all associated with higher impulsivity, and a high intake of energy amplified the effect of ADHD PRS on impulsivity (e.g., for the interaction term of ADHD PRS and highest tertile on intake of energy, B = 0.038 (95% CI: 0.014, 0.062); p = 0.002. The other lifestyle factors, namely short and long sleep duration, current and past smoking, higher alcohol intake, and more time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were associated with higher impulsivity, but no interaction effect was observed. In conclusion, we found that a high intake of energy exacerbated the genetic susceptibility to impulsivity. Our study helps to improve our understanding of the role of diet and genetic factors on impulsivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Sleep, Physical Activity and Mood Disorders)
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Review

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23 pages, 412 KiB  
Review
Dietary Nutrient Deficiencies and Risk of Depression (Review Article 2018–2023)
by Magdalena Zielińska, Edyta Łuszczki and Katarzyna Dereń
Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2433; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112433 - 23 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5509
Abstract
Depression is classified as one of the most common mental disorders. Its prevalence has recently increased, becoming a growing public health threat. This review focuses on clarifying the role and importance of individual nutrients in the diet and the impact of nutrient deficiencies [...] Read more.
Depression is classified as one of the most common mental disorders. Its prevalence has recently increased, becoming a growing public health threat. This review focuses on clarifying the role and importance of individual nutrients in the diet and the impact of nutrient deficiencies on the risk of depression. Deficiencies in nutrients such as protein, B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids have a significant impact on brain and nervous system function, which can affect the appearance of depressive symptoms. However, it is important to remember that diet in itself is not the only factor influencing the risk of or helping to treat depression. There are many other aspects, such as physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social support, that also play an important role in maintaining mental health. The data review observed that most of the available analyses are based on cross-sectional studies. Further studies, including prospective cohort, case-control studies, are recommended to draw more reliable conclusions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Sleep, Physical Activity and Mood Disorders)
17 pages, 1046 KiB  
Review
Need for Multidimensional and Multidisciplinary Management of Depressed Preadolescents and Adolescents: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Oral Supplementations (Omega-3, Fish Oil, Vitamin D3)
by Carlo Pruneti and Sara Guidotti
Nutrients 2023, 15(10), 2306; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102306 - 15 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1896
Abstract
(1) Background: Depression is a serious health problem with a high cost for public administration. Epidemiological studies report that one in five children have a mental disorder and about 50% of mental health problems exacerbate in childhood and adolescence. Moreover, the antidepressant [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Depression is a serious health problem with a high cost for public administration. Epidemiological studies report that one in five children have a mental disorder and about 50% of mental health problems exacerbate in childhood and adolescence. Moreover, the antidepressant efficacy in children and adolescents is poorly demonstrated and can cause severe behavioral adverse events such as suicidal ideation. (2) Methods: This systematic literature review examined oral supplementations (Omega-3, fish oil, Vitamin D3) to treat depressed children, preadolescents, and adolescents. MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and PsycInfo were searched for articles published in the last five years. Six studies met the eligibility criteria. The inclusion criteria encompassed children, preadolescents, and adolescents, a diagnosis of depression, and an intervention of oral supplementations such as Omega-3, fish oil, and Vitamin D3. (3) Results: Most of the studies demonstrated that dietary intervention provides positive outcomes in terms of depression symptoms. (4) Conclusions: Overall, the results demonstrate a positive effect for oral supplementation suggesting an increase intake of Omega-3, fish oil, and Vitamin D3. However, only a few studies assess the effectiveness of diet recommendations, as a monotherapy or combined treatment, for the management of depression at developmental ages. Thus, there is still a need to further investigate these aspects and to look more specifically at adolescents and preadolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Sleep, Physical Activity and Mood Disorders)
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Other

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16 pages, 693 KiB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Clinical Psychophysiology of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders: Does the Obsession with Diet Also Alter the Autonomic Imbalance of Orthorexic Patients?
by Carlo Pruneti, Gabriella Coscioni and Sara Guidotti
Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030755 - 02 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2265
Abstract
(1) Background: A new mental illness is attracting the attention of researchers and mental health professionals. Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a possible new mental disorder, the main symptom of which is an obsessive and insecure focus on healthy foods and consequent compulsive behaviors. [...] Read more.
(1) Background: A new mental illness is attracting the attention of researchers and mental health professionals. Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a possible new mental disorder, the main symptom of which is an obsessive and insecure focus on healthy foods and consequent compulsive behaviors. There is a common consensus among researchers that ON is considered partly overlapping with obsessive–compulsive disorders (OCDs). (2) Methods: MEDLINE and Scopus were searched for articles published in the last 10 years regarding the psychophysiological aspects of OCD and ON. Eight studies met the eligibility criteria. The inclusion criteria encompassed adults diagnosed with OCD and/or ON. However, only studies involving OCD patients were found. (3) Results: Some research groups have shown that OCD disorders can be considered among anxiety disorders because they are characterized by anxious hyper activation. Other research, however, has shown profiles characterized by low psychophysiological reactivity to stressful stimuli. Despite this, there seems to be a consensus on the poor inhibition abilities, even when activation is low, and the dissociation between cognitive and psychophysiological activation emerged. (4) Conclusions: However discordant, some points seem to bring the researchers to agreement. In fact, there is consensus on conducting a multidimensional assessment that can measure all of the aspects of suffering (cognition, emotion, and behavior) and highlight the poor body–mind integration. This clinical approach would make it possible to propose interventions aimed at treating some mental illnesses such as food obsession that can paradoxically impair the psychophysical balance. Nevertheless, the applied systematizing approach to existing studies on ON is very much needed for better understanding of the psychophysical nature of this new mental illness and its implications for prevention and treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Sleep, Physical Activity and Mood Disorders)
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