Bioactive Compounds in Food: Sources, Stability, Bioavailability and Health Benefits
A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2026 | Viewed by 590
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food nutrition; bioavailability; absorption and metabolism
Interests: protein functional activity; protein processing characteristics; molecular dynamics simulation
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Bioactive compounds are key constituents in food that extend beyond basic nutrition, offering significant potential for promoting human health and preventing chronic diseases. This Special Issue of Foods aims to compile cutting-edge research addressing the complete journey of these compounds: from their sources (identification in novel or underutilized raw materials and the impact of agricultural practices) to their stability during processing, storage, and culinary preparation. A core focus will be on their bioavailability—understanding the complex factors influencing their release, absorption, and metabolism within the human body. Finally, we seek contributions that elucidate their mechanisms of action and substantiate their health benefits through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. By tackling these crucial questions, this Special Issue intends to foster a holistic understanding of how to effectively translate bioactive compounds from farm to functional effects, supporting the development of healthier food products and evidence-based dietary recommendations. We welcome original research and comprehensive reviews that advance knowledge in this dynamic field.
Therefore, we welcome submissions on a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Novel and Unconventional Sources:Identification, quantification, and preparation of bioactive compounds from underutilized plants, algae, microorganisms, fermented foods, and agro-industrial by-products.
- Impact of Food Processing:Effects of conventional (e.g., thermal and drying) and emerging (e.g., high-pressure and pulsed electric field) technologies on the stability, structure, and activity of bioactive compounds during processing and storage.
- Gastrointestinal Fate and Absorption:Studies on the digestion, release, transformation, interaction with gut microbiota, and intestinal absorption mechanisms of bioactive compounds using in vitro and in vivo models.
- Delivery System Design and Application:Development and characterization of encapsulation systems (e.g., nanoparticles, emulsions, liposomes, and biopolymer complexes); enhancement of the chemical, physical, and biological stability of core active substances; innovative approaches to co‑encapsulation and compatibility; and the use of relevant in vitro, in silico, or application‑based models to validate functional efficacy.
- Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Action:In vitro and animal studies elucidating the mechanisms underlying the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, metabolic, anti-osteoporosis, or neuroprotective effects of specific bioactive compounds.
- Clinical Evidence and Human Interventions:Human studies (randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and meta-analyses) investigating the health benefits of bioactive compound-rich foods or extracts on biomarkers and disease risk factors.
Prof. Dr. Lei Chen
Dr. Xiyan Wang
Guest Editor
Dr. Yanan Zhao
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- bioactive compounds
- stabilization strategies
- absorption
- health benefits
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