Tryptophan-enriched antioxidant cereals improve sleep in children with autistic spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders

Year 2017, , 608 - 616, 12.08.2017

Carmen Galán , Soledad Sánchez Lourdes Franco Rafael Bravo Montserrat Rivero Ana Beatriz Rodríguez Carmen Barriga

https://doi.org/10.37212/jcnos.334393

Cited By: 4

Abstract

The
intake of foods rich in tryptophan produces beneficial effects on sleep. The
majority of children with neurological disorders like autistic spectrum disorder
(ASD), cerebral palsy or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have
sleep problems. To evaluate the effect of tryptophan-enriched cereal intake on
sleep of children with neurological disorders. Involving 7 children with ASD, 9
children with cerebral palsy and 6 children with ADHD. They carried a wrist actimeter
to record activity. The second and fourth week children ingested control cereals
at breakfast and dinner. The first, third and fifth week test cereals were
administered at breakfast and dinner double-blinded, i.e., participants didn’t
know if they ingested tryptophan-enriched cereals or control cereals. Sleep
efficiency improved in children with ASD after tryptophan-enriched cereals
consumption at dinner. Sleep efficiency and wake bouts improved in children with
cerebral palsy after consumption of tryptophanenriched cereals at dinner.
Assumed sleep improved in volunteers with ADHD after consumption of tryptophan-enriched
cereals at dinner. Actual sleep time, sleep efficiency and immobile time
improved in these children with ADHD after consumption of tryptophanenriched cereals
at dinner and when they ingested tryptophan-enriched cereals at breakfast and
dinner too. In conclusion, intake of tryptophan-enriched cereals improves sleep
of children with ASD and ADHD.

Keywords

Actigraphy; Child; Chronobiology disorders; Neurological disorders; Sleep; Tryptophan

References

• American Psychiatric Association. 2013. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition. DSM-5.
• Braam W, Didden R, Smits M, Curfs L. 2008. Melatonin treatment in individuals with intellectual disability and chronic insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled study. J Intellect Disabil Res 52: 256-264.
• Bravo R, Matito S, Cubero J, Paredes SD, Franco L, Rivero M, Rodríguez AB, Barriga C. 2013. Tryptophan-enriched cereal intake improves nocturnal sleep, melatonin, serotonin, and total antioxidant capacity levels and mood in elderly humans. Age (Dordr) 35: 1277-1285.
• Choi J, Yoon IY, Kim HW, Chung S, Yoo HJ. 2010. Differences between objective and subjective sleep measures in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Clin Sleep Med 6: 589-595.
• Cortese S, Faraone SV, Konofal E, Lecendreux M. 2009. Sleep in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: metaanalysis of subjective and objective studies. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Physchiatry 48: 894-908.
• Cubero J, Valero V, Sánchez J, Rivero M, Parvez H, Rodríguez AB, Barriga C. 2005. The circadian rhythm of tryptophan in breast milk affects the rhythms of 6- sulfatoxymelatonin and sleep in newborn. Neuroendocrinol Lett 26: 657-661.
• Cubero J, Narciso D, Aparicio S, Garau C, Valero V, Rivero M, Esteban S, Rial R, Rodríguez AB, Barriga C. 2006. Improved circadian sleepwake cycle in infants fed a day/night dissociated formula milk. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 27: 373-380.
• Didden R, Korzilius H, Van Aperlo B, Van Overloop C, De Vries M. 2002. Sleep problems and daytime problems behaviours in children with intelectual disability. J Intellect Disabil Res 46: 537-547.
• Goodlin-Jones BL, Sitnick SL, Tang K, Liu J, Anders TF. 2008. The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire in Toddlers and Preschool Children. J Dev Behav Pediatr 29: 82-88.
• Hemmingsson H, Stenhammar AM, Paulsson K. 2009. Sleep problems and the need for parental night-time attention in children with physical disabilities. Child Care Health Dev 35: 89-95.
• Johnson KP, Giannotti F, Cortesi F. 2009. Sleep patterns in autism spectrum disorders. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin North Am 18: 917-928.
• Kotagal S, Gibbons VP, Stith JA. 1994. Sleep abnormalities in patients with severe cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 36: 304-311.
• Kotagal S, Broomall E. Sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder. 2012. Pediatr Neurol 47: 242-251.
• Malow BA, McGrew SG. 2008. Sleep disturbances in autism. Sleep Med Clin 3: 479-488.
• Malow B, Adkins KW, McGrew SG, Wang L, Goldman SE, Fawkes D, Burnette C. 2012. Melatonin for sleep in children with autism: A controlled trial examining dose, tolerability, and outcomes. J Autism Dev Disord. 42: 1729-1737.
• Miano S, Bruni O, Elia M, Trovato A, Smerieri A, Verrillo E, Roccella M, Terzano MG, Ferri R. 2007. Sleep in children with autistic spectrum disorder: A questionnaire and polysomnographic study. Sleep Med 9: 64-70.
• Muratorio A, Massetani R, Baracchini G, Masoni P, Simonetti C, Bianchi F, Lami V. 1984. Sleep disorders in neuropsychiatric children. Res Commun Psychol Psyachiatry Behav 9: 285-306.
• Nemzer ED, Arnold LE, Votolato NA, McConnell H. 1986. Amino acid supplementation as therapy for attention deficit disorder. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry 25: 509-513.
• Newman CJ, O’Regan M, Hensey O. 2006. Sleep disorder in children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 48: 564-568.
• Pillar G, Etzioni A, Shahar E, Lavie P. 1998. Melatonin treatment in an institutionalised child with psychomotor retardation and an irregular sleep-wake pattern. Arch Dis Child 79: 63-64.
• Polimeni MA, Richdale AL, Francis AJ. 2005. A survey of sleep problems in autism, Asperger’s disorder and typically developing children. J Intellect Disabil Res 49: 260-268.
• Quine L. 1991. Sleep problems in children with mental handicap. J Mental Defic Res 35: 269-290.
• Richdale A, Francis A, Gavidia-Payne S, Cotton S. 2000. Stress, behaviour, and sleep problems in children with an intellectual disability. J Intellect Dev Disabil 25: 147-161.
• Van Den Heuvel CJ, Reid KJ, Dawson D. 1997. Effect of atenolol on nocturnal sleep and temperature in young men: reversal by pharmacological doses of melatonin. Physiol Behav 61: 795-802.
• Van der Heijden KB, Smits MG, Van Someren EJ, Ridderinkhof KR, Gunning WB. 2007. Effect of melatonin on sleep, behavior, and cognition in TDAH and chronic sleep-onset insomnia. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Physchiatry 46: 233-241.
• Wasdell MB, Jan JE, Bomben MM. 2008. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of controlled release melatonin treatment of delayed sleep phase syndrome and impaired sleep maintenance in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. J. Pineal Res 44: 57-64.
• Wiggs L, Stores G. 1996. Severe sleep disturbance and daytime challenging behaviour in children with severe learning disabilities. J Intellect Disabil Res 40: 518-528.
• Zucconi M, Bruni O. 2001. Sleep disorders in children with neurologic diseases. Semin Pediatr Neurol 8: 258-275.