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

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.