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Macro- and Micronutrients in Health and Diseases
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Macro- and Micronutrients in Health and Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 10480

Editors

Dr. Karolina Orywal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 15 A, 15-276 Białystok, Poland
Interests: carcinogenesis; cancer diagnostics; cancer markers; minerals; alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes; aldehyde dehydrogenase; nutrition; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mariusz Gryko

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. 2nd Clinical Department of General, Gastroenterological and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok Clinical Hospital, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 24 A, 15-276 Białystok, Poland
2. Department of Surgical Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-274 Białystok, Poland
Interests: gastrointestinal tract cancers; oncology; cancer diagnostics; general surgery; gastroenterological surgery; apoptosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutrition is one of the most important modifiable factors that can be targeted to promote health and reduce the risk of disease. A balanced diet ensures the proper concentration of macro- and micronutrients is maintained in the body, while their deficiencies or excesses are associated with various diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and immune disorders. Understanding the relationship between nutrient deficiencies and chronic diseases and the early detection of nutritional disorders is crucial for preventive and holistic health care. In this Special Issue, we seek contributions that go beyond general discussions of nutrition and provide state-of-the-art methodologies for studying the effects of nutrients on health. We especially encourage studies using omics technologies (metabolomics, nutrigenomics, and proteomics), molecular docking, bioinformatic approaches, clinical trials, and advanced biomarker analysis to elucidate nutrient interactions at the cellular and systemic levels. We welcome research that offers new insights into nutrient metabolism, molecular pathways, and precision nutritional strategies aimed at improving disease prevention and therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Karolina Orywal
Dr. Mariusz Gryko
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • macronutrients
  • micronutrients
  • vitamins
  • macrominerals
  • trace elements
  • cancer
  • obesity
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • diabetes
  • osteoporosis
  • immune disorders
  • neurodegenerative diseases

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2042 KB  
Article
Zinc Supplementation Partially Reconstitutes Impaired Interferon-γ Production in the Elderly
by Krisztina Olah, Johanna Zenk, Jana Jakobs, Thea Laurentius, Leo Cornelius Bollheimer and Lothar Rink
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 1039; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27021039 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1059
Abstract
Aging impacts immunity, zinc status, and overall health, with these factors being closely interconnected. Zinc is known to modulate protein expression and cytokine production, with new molecular mechanisms continuing to be identified. ZIP8 facilitates IFN-γ production by increasing the intracellular zinc levels; how [...] Read more.
Aging impacts immunity, zinc status, and overall health, with these factors being closely interconnected. Zinc is known to modulate protein expression and cytokine production, with new molecular mechanisms continuing to be identified. ZIP8 facilitates IFN-γ production by increasing the intracellular zinc levels; how zinc status in humans affects ZIP8 expression remains unclear. We assessed serum zinc, dietary zinc intake, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated IFN-γ production, and ZIP8 protein expression in elderly hospitalized patients and young healthy controls. Compared to young adults, elderly participants exhibited lower zinc status and IFN-γ levels, with PPI use among the elderly correlating with zinc deficiency. Zinc-deficient elderly participants received zinc aspartate supplementation for approximately 7 days, resulting in increased serum zinc levels, IFN-γ production, and a trend toward increased ZIP8 expression; in participants taking PPIs, this increase reached statistical significance. Although we found no clear correlation between ZIP8 expression and zinc status, the observed response to supplementation warrants further investigation. These findings reinforce the relevance of zinc supplementation in the elderly, although further studies are needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking zinc status to IFN-γ production, particularly regarding the role of ZIP8 expression levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macro- and Micronutrients in Health and Diseases)
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25 pages, 1253 KB  
Article
In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Speciation of Toxic and Nutritional Trace Elements in Brazil Nuts
by Astrid Barkleit, Jiyoung Eum, Diana Walther, Daniel Butscher, Sebastian Friedrich, Katharina Müller and Jerome Kretzschmar
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8312; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178312 - 27 Aug 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3343
Abstract
Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa), mainly from the Amazon, are notable for their exceptionally high selenium (Se) content and are widely consumed as a natural dietary supplement. They also contain potentially harmful elements, including barium (Ba), and exhibit an unusual capacity to [...] Read more.
Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa), mainly from the Amazon, are notable for their exceptionally high selenium (Se) content and are widely consumed as a natural dietary supplement. They also contain potentially harmful elements, including barium (Ba), and exhibit an unusual capacity to accumulate radioactive radium (Ra). In this study, we quantified the concentrations of Se, Ba, strontium (Sr), lanthanum (La), europium (Eu), and the radionuclides 226Ra and 228Ra, and assessed their in vitro bioaccessibility—data largely unavailable for these elements to date. Se was highly bioaccessible (≈85%), whereas Ba and Ra, both chemo- and/or radiotoxic, exhibited low bioaccessibility (≈2% each). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed Se to occur predominantly as selenomethionine (SeMet), alongside phytate, amino acids, peptides, and other polar low-molecular-weight compounds. The influence of Brazil nut flour (BNF) on Eu(III) speciation in simulated gastrointestinal fluids, and the effect of chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and the hydroxypyridinone 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) were investigated using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). Results indicate that the food matrix has only a minor impact on the decorporation efficacy of these chelators. These findings provide novel insights into the bioaccessibility and chemical speciation of nutritionally and toxicologically relevant elements in Brazil nuts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macro- and Micronutrients in Health and Diseases)
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Review

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22 pages, 1834 KB  
Review
Therapeutic Effects of Vitamins in Endometriosis Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
by Sophia Tsokkou, Alkis Matsas, Ioannis Konstantinidis, Evaggelia Karopoulou, Theodora Papamitsou and Eleni Stamoula
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031476 - 2 Feb 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2964
Abstract
Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory condition affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, which frequently results in dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and infertility. While hormonal medications [...] Read more.
Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory condition affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, which frequently results in dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and infertility. While hormonal medications and surgical procedures are common treatments, they are often constrained by adverse effects and high recurrence rates. The aim was to systematically identify, critically appraise, and synthesize randomized controlled trials evaluating vitamin D, C, and E supplementation in women with endometriosis, focusing on their effects on pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, quality of life, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers, and fertility-related outcomes, and to highlight methodological gaps that can inform future research and integrated therapeutic strategies. Following PRISMA guidelines, seven eligible RCTs were identified from databases including PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. The quality of these studies was assessed using the Jadad Scoring System and Cochrane RoB 2 tool. High-dose supplementation of vitamin D (50,000 IU) was found to significantly reduce pelvic pain and improve biochemical markers such as hs-CRP and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Vitamin D appears to modulate endometrial pathways by reducing active β-catenin protein activity, which may disrupt signaling associated with lesion invasion and survival. Additionally, combined Vitamin C and E therapy (typically 1000 mg/day of Vitamin C and 800 IU/day of Vitamin E) acts synergistically to scavenge free radicals. This intervention significantly decreased oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Patients reported significant improvements in symptoms, including a 43% reduction in daily pelvic pain and a 37% reduction in dysmenorrhea. Despite physiological improvements, there was no statistically significant increase in pregnancy rates observed across the trials. Vitamin supplementation with D, C, and E represents a safe, low-cost adjunct therapy that can effectively mitigate endometriosis-related oxidative stress and pelvic pain. While these vitamins show promise for symptom relief, further research with larger sample sizes is required to determine their long-term impact on fertility outcomes and lesion regression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macro- and Micronutrients in Health and Diseases)
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15 pages, 1139 KB  
Review
Altering the Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of the Essential Nutrient Water as a Promising Tool for Therapy: Perspectives and Risks
by Nataliya V. Yaglova, Sergey S. Obernikhin, Ekaterina P. Timokhina, Elina S. Tsomartova, Valentin V. Yaglov, Svetlana V. Nazimova, Marina Y. Ivanova, Elizaveta V. Chereshneva, Tatiana A. Lomanovskaya and Dibakhan A. Tsomartova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(9), 4448; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26094448 - 7 May 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1944
Abstract
Water is a vital nutrient that is needed to maintain almost all biological processes in living organisms. The natural water contains two isotopes of hydrogen—protium and deuterium. Deuterium, the trace component of natural water, significantly changes its physical and chemical properties and biological [...] Read more.
Water is a vital nutrient that is needed to maintain almost all biological processes in living organisms. The natural water contains two isotopes of hydrogen—protium and deuterium. Deuterium, the trace component of natural water, significantly changes its physical and chemical properties and biological action. In this review, the authors summarize data on the isotopic effects of deuterium and discuss the possible magnetic effects of isotopes and the molecular basis of the biological effects of deuterium-depleted water. The review also presents new data on the already known and potential use of deuterium-depleted water in medicine (oncology, neurology) and previously unknown new directions of its use (immunological and endocrine disorders, anemia). Based on the analysis of collected data, the authors presented mechanisms of action of deuterium-depleted water in the organism. The authors also identified the least-studied effects of deuterium-depleted water, particularly its influence on morphogenetic processes. The review discloses the perspectives on deuterium-depleted water as a tool for therapy and substantiates the risks of its uncontrolled intake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macro- and Micronutrients in Health and Diseases)
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