Caloric restriction as a nutrition strategy in counteracting peripheral neuropathies ( Book Chapter) Diet and Nutrition in Neurological Disorders

The affluent society of the developed countries allows unlimited access to food, including junk food that is associated with sedentary life style, leading to metabolic disorders which in turn can influence and cause inflammatory and neurological diseases. On the other hand, periods of caloric restriction (CR), a food intake reduction without malnutrition, have been showed to have enormous advantages in terms of health and recovery of homeostasis in different kinds of pathologies as well as to extend the life span. Mechanisms underlying CR-induced beneficial effects are partially understood but it has been recognized that CR is able to promote autophagy. Autophagy is a cellular self-preservation mechanism by which pathogens, dysfunctional cells, and parts of them are phagocytosed, degraded, and recycled for cellular repair or utilized as energy during starvation. Recently, works extend the field of application CR-induced autophagy also to peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathies (PNs) are neurological disorders due to metabolic, genetic, immunological disorders, traumatic, and chemical injuries to peripheral nerves characterized by pain, numbness, and tingling of the limbs end and motor deficits such as loss of balance, coordination, and muscle weakness. Autophagy plays a determinant role in PN development and CR can represent a valid nutritional therapeutic strategy to improve it, facilitating nerve recovery and counteracting debilitating symptoms. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.