Nutraceuticals in the Early Infancy

Abstract

Atherosclerosis disease and its extent in childhood correlate positively with established risk factors, namely obesity, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The safety and efficacy of some dietary interventions to modulate risk factors in childhood are documented by an increasing body of evidence. The present review analyzes nutritional and nutraceutical current strategies addressed to modify some risk factors of atherosclerosis in childhood. In particular, studies concerning nutrients such as fibers, omega-3-fatty acids, vitamin D, antioxidants, and calcium have been evaluated. An overall analysis suggests that some nutraceuticals might represent an attractive tool to lower the development of atherosclerotic-related cardiovascular complication in children. Nevertheless, at this moment, due to the methodological weakness that characterizes the majority of the analyzed studies, nutrients or supplements should not be considered as a therapeutic tool potentially usable for clinical purpose in children at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Toxicity in Children: A Potential and Current Toxicological Event in the Differential Diagnosis With Virus-Triggered Fulminant Hepatic Failure

“…One note that is often missed in healthcare reports on social media is the lack of a balance with the presentation of side effects with the beneficial effects (Abdualmjid and Sergi, 2013). This aspect is crucial mainly in vulnerable populations, such as children and youth (Pignatelli and Basili, 2010;Cicero and Colletti, 2018). Some societies, particularly in the West that have not been exposed to such compounds for hundreds of years, may leave individuals to adopt diet supplements in a state that may be more harmful than beneficial at some point.…”

Introduction to Nutraceuticals Special Issue

“…In other words, it is to define if supplements are useful for primary of secondary prevention and if early assumption may halt atherosclerotic progression. This is another crucial issue as the use of supplements has been investigated in the early infancy in children at risk of cardiovascular disease [12]. For all these reasons I believe that a special issue regarding supplements will be of interest for readers who are looking for new approaches for prevention of cardiovascular diseases.…”