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Review
. 2023 Oct 27;15(21):4564.
doi: 10.3390/nu15214564.

Effects of Walnut and Pumpkin on Selective Neurophenotypes of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study

Afaf El-Ansary  1   2 , Laila Al-Ayadhi  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Effects of Walnut and Pumpkin on Selective Neurophenotypes of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study

Afaf El-Ansary et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Special diets or nutritional supplements are regularly given to treat children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The increased consumption of particular foods has been demonstrated in numerous trials to lessen autism-related symptoms and comorbidities. A case study on a boy with moderate autism who significantly improved after three years of following a healthy diet consisting of pumpkin and walnuts was examined in this review in connection to a few different neurophenotypes of ASD. We are able to suggest that a diet high in pumpkin and walnuts was useful in improving the clinical presentation of the ASD case evaluated by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered gut microbiota, all of which are etiological variables. Using illustrated figures, a full description of the ways by which a diet high in pumpkin and nuts could assist the included case is offered.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; glutamate excitotoxicity; neurophenotypes; nutritional intervention; pumpkin; walnuts.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of walnut peptides. By triggering the CREB, BDNF, and antioxidant Nrf2 signaling pathways as well as significantly enhancing the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes, walnut peptides shield cells from oxidation. Numerous brief walnut peptides stopped the death process and consequent mitochondrial dysfunction. Lipid peroxidation, pathways, and levels of inflammatory cytokines were all decreased or blocked after walnut peptide therapy.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Recorded anti-inflammatory effects of pumpkin pulp.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Suggested anti-excitotoxic effects of walnut peptides as treatment intervention in ASD.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Anti-excitotoxic effects of pumpkin flesh as treatment intervention in ASD.
Figure 5
Figure 5
An illustration of the method by which walnut eating can treat mitochondrial dysfunction as a neurophenotype in ASD.
Figure 6
Figure 6
An illustration of the method by which pumpkin eating can treat mitochondrial dysfunction as a neurophenotype in ASD.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Consuming walnuts and pumpkin may reduce CNS inflammation by restructuring pathogenic gut flora and could be used to treat gut leakiness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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