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

Year 2017, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 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

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