Advances in the Preventive Role of Food: Functional Foods and Beverages for Human Health

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 April 2026 | Viewed by 318

Special Issue Editors

College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: dietary nutrition; gut microbiota; food nutrition and safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: food processing; food safety; molecular nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The “Preventive Role of Functional Foods” represents a pivotal paradigm that underscores the intrinsic link between dietary choices and human health. Rooted in age-old wisdom and bolstered by modern scientific advancements, this concept emphasizes how foods, spanning from raw ingredients and functional components to meticulously formulated diets, can prevent, manage, and even treat a wide array of diseases.

This Special Issue of Foods explores the powerful role of functional foods in preventing illnesses and improving health, while promoting public health and environmental sustainability. We welcome research examining all aspects of functional foods and beverages that have positive impacts on human health. We also welcome studies on innovative technologies such as microbial fermentation, medically tailored diets, food prescription programs, and functional food development. Submissions should provide clear, well-structured, and concise insights; in particular, we seek research integrating traditional knowledge with innovative scientific methodologies.

Dr. Daotong Li
Prof. Dr. Fang Chen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • preventive role of food
  • nutritional therapy
  • food quality
  • dietary health
  • dietary patterns
  • diet and health
  • functional foods
  • sustainable diets

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 3001 KB  
Article
Study on Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Activity and Flavor Quality in the Fermentation of a Plant-Based Beverage by Different Lactic Acid Bacteria
by Liu Yang, Yifan Zhao, Yingzhuo Zhou, Qian Zhao, Shaohua Yuan, Chen Ma, Li Dong, Yinghua Luo, Xiaosong Hu, Fang Chen and Daotong Li
Foods 2025, 14(21), 3761; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14213761 - 2 Nov 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of three different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains (Limosilactobacillus fermentum 14, Limosilactobacillus reuteri 18, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CAU808) on the nutrient components, bioactivity, and flavor profiles of a medicinal and edible homologous (MEH) plant-based beverage (QJ). Results [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of three different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains (Limosilactobacillus fermentum 14, Limosilactobacillus reuteri 18, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CAU808) on the nutrient components, bioactivity, and flavor profiles of a medicinal and edible homologous (MEH) plant-based beverage (QJ). Results demonstrated that QJ served as an excellent substrate for LAB growth, with viable counts of all three LAB exceeding 8.5 log CFU/mL after fermentation. Fermentation significantly reduced soluble sugar contents while increasing organic acids levels. A slight enhancement in ABTS radical scavenging capacity was also observed. Electronic tongue (E-tongue) analysis revealed that LAB fermentation markedly decreased bitterness and enhanced sourness, sweetness, and umami, thereby improving the overall taste profile. Furthermore, electronic nose (E-nose) and HS-SPME-GC-MS analyses indicated distinct alterations in odor characteristics post-fermentation. A total of 87 volatile compounds were identified, with alcohols constituting the predominant group. Compared to the other two strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CAU808 demonstrated superior fermentation performance and more favorable flavor characteristics. These findings provide a theoretical basis for utilizing LAB fermentation to optimize the flavor of MEH plant-based beverages. Full article
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