Supplements and Drug-Based Strategies in Neonatal and Paediatric Health

Dear Colleagues,

The use of supplements and pharmacological agents in neonatal and paediatric patients is a growing area of research, yet many of their molecular mechanisms and clinical outcomes remain incompletely understood. The early stages of life—from the neonatal period through to late childhood—are characterised by rapid developmental changes in the immune, neurological, and metabolic systems, as well as in the gut microbiota, all of which can significantly influence the safety and efficacy of both nutrients and drugs.

This Special Issue aims to collate studies that provide molecular-level insights into how food supplements, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals affect health and disease in the paediatric and neonatal population. We welcome contributions that address the following topics:

• The modulation of immune responses and infectious disease outcomes;
• The role of the microbiota in shaping systemic responses to therapies;
• The effects of interventions on neurological and neurodevelopmental mechanisms;
• Drug–nutrient interactions and their molecular consequences;
• Approaches to personalised supplementation or pharmacotherapy.

In addition to reports of original findings, we also encourage submissions of critical and mechanistic reviews that focus on controversial or underexplored aspects, such as the appropriateness of certain bioactives or supplements for neonates and children; challenges in establishing optimal dosages and delivery routes; and evidence gaps and regulatory grey areas in paediatric integrative therapies.

Led by Dr. Giulia Malaguarnera, with the assistance of Dr. Roberta Leonardi and Dr. Manuela Lo Bianco (University of Catania), we aim to build a collection that not only presents new data, but also questions existing practices and helps to clarify how we can move toward safer, more effective, and mechanistically informed strategies in child and neonatal healthcare.

Dr. Giulia Malaguarnera
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.