{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T23:33:27Z","timestamp":1790033607130,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,13]],"date-time":"2024-03-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1710288000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Italian Ministry of Health with Current Research funds"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder primarily affecting children and adolescents. Disorders of the gut\u2013brain interaction (DGBIs) have gained recognition as significant symptoms in individuals with AN. However, limited studies have explored GI symptoms in pediatric populations with AN using age-specific diagnostic tools. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of DGBIs, their associated psychopathological aspects and their potential correlations with ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption among pediatric AN patients. The study included AN patients who were under the care of a specialized multidisciplinary team. We assessed DGBI-related symptoms using the Rome IV Pediatric Diagnostic Questionnaire on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (R4PDQ) and conducted psychological evaluations. Dietary intake and UPF consumption were evaluated. Among 56 AN patients, we observed a lower prevalence of DGBIs (functional constipation: 61%; functional dyspepsia: 54%; irritable bowel syndrome: 25%) compared to the existing literature. The psychological assessments revealed high rates of depression (72%) and anxiety (70%). UPF consumption was inversely related to depression levels (p = 0.01) but positively correlated with functional constipation (p = 0.046). This study highlights the importance of using age-specific diagnostic tools and emphasizes the crucial role of a specialized multidisciplinary team in the treatment of AN.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16060817","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,13]],"date-time":"2024-03-13T13:23:11Z","timestamp":1710336191000},"page":"817","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Prevalence of Rome IV Pediatric Diagnostic Questionnaire-Assessed Disorder of Gut\u2013Brain Interaction, Psychopathological Comorbidities and Consumption of Ultra-Processed Food in Pediatric Anorexia Nervosa"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1315-2161","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sara","family":"Rurgo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Rosaria","family":"Marchili","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Pediatrics and ED 2nd Level, Bambino Ges\u00f9 Children\u2019s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5685-5468","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giulia","family":"Spina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Pediatrics and ED 2nd Level, Bambino Ges\u00f9 Children\u2019s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Roversi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Pediatrics and ED 2nd Level, Bambino Ges\u00f9 Children\u2019s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Flavia","family":"Cirillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Pediatrics and ED 2nd Level, Bambino Ges\u00f9 Children\u2019s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4881-2038","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Umberto","family":"Raucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Pediatrics and ED 2nd Level, Bambino Ges\u00f9 Children\u2019s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1467-1134","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanni","family":"Sarnelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Massimiliano","family":"Raponi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Directorate, Bambino Ges\u00f9 Children\u2019s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9120-0424","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alberto","family":"Villani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Pediatrics and ED 2nd Level, Bambino Ges\u00f9 Children\u2019s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy"},{"name":"Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"American Psychiatric Association (2022). 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