Nutrition for Muscle Health and Metabolism
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Skeletal muscles play a central role in whole-body metabolic homeostasis, acting as a major site for glucose uptake, lipid oxidation, and energy expenditure, while also serving as an endocrine organ through the secretion of myokines that regulate inter-organ communication. Nutrition is a critical modulator of muscle health and metabolism, influencing growth, regeneration, mitochondrial function and metabolic flexibility. Dietary factors such as protein, amino acids, micronutrients and bioactive compounds directly affect molecular pathways involved in muscle protein turnover, insulin sensitivity, inflammation and oxidative stress. Altered nutritional status is associated with conditions such as sarcopenia, obesity, insulin resistance and other metabolic disorders, underscoring the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms by which nutrition regulates muscle function and metabolic health.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current advances in understanding how nutrition regulates muscle health and metabolism at the molecular, cellular and physiological levels. By integrating findings from basic, translational and applied research, including human studies, the Special Issue seeks to highlight novel molecular pathways, signaling mechanisms and nutrition-based strategies that influence muscle function and metabolic health in both healthy and pathological conditions.
We welcome original research and review articles that advance understanding of the nutritional regulation of muscle health and metabolism. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the roles of macronutrients in skeletal-muscle metabolism; the influence of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals on muscle function and energy homeostasis; bioactive compounds and polyphenols in muscle health and metabolic regulation; microbiome–nutrition interactions within the gut–muscle axis; nutrition-mediated modulation of mitochondrial function and muscle bioenergetics; the nutritional regulation of insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscles; molecular signaling pathways linking nutrition to muscle adaptation and remodeling; diet–exercise interactions affecting muscle and metabolic health; and the role of muscle-derived myokines in metabolic regulation and muscle–organ cross-talk.
I look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Hira Shakoor
Guest Editor
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
- nutrition
- skeletal muscle
- muscle metabolism
- mitochondrial function
- insulin sensitivity
- myokines
- metabolic health
- metabolic disease
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
