Health Benefits of the Plant-Based Diet for Metabolic Syndrome

A special issue of Dietetics (ISSN 2674-0311).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 477

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

According to the NCEP ATP III definition, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of at least three of the following five medical conditions: (1) high blood glucose; (2) low levels of HDL cholesterol in the blood; (3) high levels of triglycerides in the blood; (4) large waist circumference; and (5) high blood pressure. Patients with MetS have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality. Lifestyle modifications, especially dietary habits, comprise the main therapeutic strategy for the treatment and management of MetS, but the most effective dietary pattern for its management has not been established. A plant-based diet (including the Mediterranean and vegetarian diets) has been considered, at present, the healthiest dietary pattern worldwide. Research on the identification of the active constituents (vitamins, sterols, polyphenols, etc.) of these plant-based diets is very active and could lead to the formulation of appropriate dietary guidelines as well as the discovery of novel bioactive foods and nutraceuticals. The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight novel research findings on plant-based diets that could represent an innovative and sustainable approach for the prevention and treatment of MetS.

We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews focusing on, but not limited, to the following topics:

  • Animal and clinical studies on plant-based diets (including the Mediterranean diet) and their active constituents, as well as their influence on relevant health outcomes.
  • Role of different bioactive foods or nutraceuticals in the management of MetS-associated disorders.
  • Synergistic or antagonistic action between different bioactive foods or nutraceuticals present in the plant-based diets on neuroendocrine–immune system modulation and gut microbiota dysbiosis.
  • Potentially toxic elements and healthy diets.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Nutrients.

Prof. Dr. Herbert Ryan Marini
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • metabolic syndrome
  • noncommunicable diseases
  • plant-based diet
  • Mediterranean diet
  • bioactive foods
  • nutraceuticals
  • microbiota
  • potentially toxic elements

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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32 pages, 1345 KiB  
Review
Scoping Review: Environmental Factors Influencing Food Intake in Mental Health Inpatient Settings
by Luise V. Marino, Rosan Meyer, Sarah Veale and Jennifer V. E. Brown
Dietetics 2025, 4(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics4020018 - 1 May 2025
Abstract
Healthcare organisations in the United Kingdom must comply with national standards for food and drink, including sustainable sourcing and minimisation, mitigation, and management of food waste. Despite this, an estimated one in six plates of food served in hospitals are wasted daily, producing [...] Read more.
Healthcare organisations in the United Kingdom must comply with national standards for food and drink, including sustainable sourcing and minimisation, mitigation, and management of food waste. Despite this, an estimated one in six plates of food served in hospitals are wasted daily, producing 12% of the UK’s food waste, equating to 6% of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e) nationally, and a waste-management cost of GBP 230 m per annum. Within healthcare, there is a move towards the implementation of “plant-based diets by default” to reduce the environmental impact, improve nutritional outcomes, and reduce costs. However, plant-based diets are often perceived as being difficult to prepare by caterers, less enjoyable, and potentially resulting in more food waste. We conducted a scoping review to examine the influence of the social, medical, and physical environment on food intake during inpatient admission to a mental health hospital. Fourteen studies were included. We identified five critical knowledge areas: (i) food and socio-cultural environment, (ii) evidence-based measures and strategies to reduce food waste, (iii) economic food environment, (iv) inevitability of weight gain, and (v) applications of theoretical models for behaviour change. Future research should explore the development of a behaviour-change framework inclusive of training, education, and goal-setting components for staff, patients, and visitors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Benefits of the Plant-Based Diet for Metabolic Syndrome)
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