Nutrients, Food Bioactives, and Functional Foods in Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Disorders

The Topic focused on the critical roles of nutrients, food bioactives, and functional foods in the prevention and management of digestive diseases and metabolic disorders, whose growing prevalence underscores the need for the analysis and identification of novel bioactive food-derived compounds and innovative dietary strategies to target the pathophysiology of these alterations. This Topic aimed to gather cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that explore the mechanisms through which specific nutrients and bioactive compounds potentially influence gut health, metabolic pathways, molecular and cellular mediators, and, ultimately, overall disease outcomes. The topics of interest included but were not limited to the health impact of dietary components on inflammation, gut microbiota, metabolic regulation, glycemic and lipid disorders, along with the design, development, and application of functional foods. Through this collection, the Topic seeks to advance our understanding of the preventive potential and health benefits of food-based approaches in managing digestive and metabolic disorders.