Neuronutrients and Central Nervous System: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, with a high and constant demand for inputs. Adequate nutrition is essential for the complete functioning of the brain, not only due to the energy supply, mainly from carbohydrates, but also due to the adequate supply of other macronutrients and micronutrients for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and protein components. Vitamins, minerals, and other components of the diet also constitute the so-called “neuro-nutrients”. Objective: It was to develop a systematic review to highlight key neuro-nutrients and clinical studies that direct strategies for adequate nutritional status. Methods: The rules of the Systematic Review-PRISMA Platform were followed. The research was carried out from October 2021 to February 2022 and developed based on Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, and Google Scholar. The quality of the studies was based on the GRADE instrument and the risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. Results: A total of 234 articles were found and 167 articles were evaluated in full, and 118 were included and evaluated in the present study. According to the GRADE instrument, most studies (>50%) followed a controlled clinical study model and had a good methodological design. The overall assessment resulted in 54 studies with a high risk of bias to the small sample size. The most important macronutrients in neuro-nutrition are phosphatidylserine and tryptophan. Micronutrients are methyl folate, vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, arginine, choline, and niacin. Conclusion: The areas of neurology and psychiatry have shown great advances regarding the deepening of knowledge in prophylaxis and pathophysiology, as well as in the treatment of established diseases. The recognition of the role of nutrition as an adjunct to these processes is currently growing. The search in scientific bases for neuro nutrients reveals a great growth of publications related to this theme. In the present text, some of these nutrients were explored to verify the current state of knowledge.

The role and impact of abnormal vitamin levels in autism spectrum disorders

“…Promotes neurotransmission and metabolic reactions and relieves oxidative stress. 130 Because diets vary greatly from country to country and VC intake varies widely, there is no internationally accepted threshold value to define VC deficiency. Values of ≤23–28 μmol L −1 and ≤11 μmol L −1 are typically used to indicate low VC and VC deficiency, respectively.…”

Perspectives on Neuronutrition in Prevention and Treatment of Neurological Disorders

“…Elimination diet based on immunological testing (IgG+ products) [127] Gluten-free diet [128] Plant-based diet [129] Multispecies probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacterium) [130] Neuroepigenetics modifications Epigenetic diet (a diet rich in methyl-donor nutrients) [131] B6 (25 mg/day) + B9 (2 mg/day) + B12 (400 mcg/day) [132] Curcumin (1 g/day) [133] CGRP 4 levels and CGRP receptor activity MIND 5 -diet [134] Ginger extract (600 mg/day) [135] Magnesium citrate (600 mg/day) [136] Vitamin D (2000 IU/day) [137] Melatonin (3 mg/day) [138] 1 EPA-Eicosapentaenoic acid. 2 DHA-Docosahexaenoic acid.…”

“…3 CoQ10-Coenzyme Q10. 4 CGRP-calcitonin gene-related peptide. 5 MIND-Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.…”

“…Dietary recommendations for corrective eating behavior and nutrient status for gastroenterological and cardiovascular diseases have been developed already [2,3]. Numerous studies show that both neuronutrients and eating behavior, in general, could impact the pathogenesis of neurological disorders and also the cognitive and emotional states of the patients [4,5].…”

Revisiting the Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Likewise, being a redox catalyst, vitamin C works as an excellent scavenger of free radicals that are generated during cellular metabolic processes. Minerals or trace elements that are found in dietary sources are also known to play a vital role in facilitating metabolic reactions and neurotransmission, as well as in alleviating oxidative stress [12].…”