New Approaches for the Management of Metabolic Syndrome and Related Health Alterations: A Focus in Probiotics, Parabiotics and Postbiotics

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolic syndrome is a health condition in which several risk factors, such as increased waist circumference, high fasting blood glucose, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia (increased blood triglyceride and decreased HDL cholesterol levels) occur simultaneously, enhancing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or atherosclerosis. Moreover, the aforementioned risk factors can also derive metabolic diseases such as obesity or diabetes, which like metabolic syndrome may increase the risk of developing further health impairments. Indeed, metabolic syndrome and related health alterations are not only among the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in Western societies, but are also considered the main causes of early death. Despite the importance and high prevalence of these health alterations, their treatment is usually based in lifestyle modification informed by dietary advice and physical activity programs, which in turn show limited success due to low adherence.

In this scenario, the scientific community is constantly looking for bioactive compounds that may exert potential benefits and thus result as useful tools for the prevention or treatment of metabolic syndrome and related health alterations. In this regard, due to the involvement of gut microbiota in the development of the aforementioned impairments, the usage of probiotics, which is common for other conditions such as constipation, has been proposed. However, since the use of probiotics implies the administration of viable bacteria, a great deal of attention has recently been paid to parabiotics (non-viable microorganisms) and postbiotics (metabolites produced by probiotic bacteria) as potential alternative approaches.

This Special Issue aims to provide up-to-date information regarding the current knowledge and research in the use of probiotics, parabiotics, and postbiotics in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome and related health alterations. Authors are invited to contribute current original research (molecule-level study or preclinical studies) as well as review articles.

Dr. Iñaki Milton-Laskibar
Prof. Dr. María P. Portillo
Guest Editors

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