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Metabolites
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Advances in Food Metabolomics for Functional Food Development and Analysis
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Advances in Food Metabolomics for Functional Food Development and Analysis

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Metabolomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1091

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amanda J. Lloyd

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
Interests: metabolomics; human health; public health; functional food; diet
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. MJ Pilar Martinez-Martin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
Interests: plant and crop sciences; mass spectrometry; human chemistry; biological analysis and clinical diagnosis; alternative proteins

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With increasing consumer interest in health and nutrition, there is a growing demand for functional foods and a deeper understanding of their bioactive properties. This Special Issue, guest-edited by Dr. Amanda J. Lloyd and Dr. M.J. Pilar Martinez Martin from Aberystwyth University, invites cutting-edge research on food metabolomics, focusing on the biological roles of metabolites and small molecule biomarkers in food science and technology.

The scope of this Special Issue includes innovative research on food compositional and functional changes during and after processing, as well as the bioactive and nutritional properties of food components such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and phytochemicals. We encourage submissions that explore the identification, quantification, and structural analysis of food metabolites, as well as their bioavailability and health benefits.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Identification, structure elucidation, and quantification of food metabolites;
  • Nutritive value, bioavailability, and functional food development;
  • Application of emerging technologies for metabolite extraction;
  • Natural antioxidants and their role in food preservation;
  • Food allergens, contaminants, and safety;
  • In vitro and in vivo studies on the bioactive functions of food components.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to share advancements in food metabolomics that support the development of functional foods with proven health benefits. By integrating multidisciplinary perspectives, this issue seeks to enhance our understanding of how food science and technology can improve public health while meeting regulatory and industry standards.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications that align with this theme. Submissions should focus on the biological roles of metabolites and their applications in functional food development, processing, and analysis.

Dr. Amanda J. Lloyd
Dr. MJ Pilar Martinez-Martin
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2700 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

  • natural food fortification
  • functional foods
  • bioactive compounds
  • nutraceuticals
  • food biofortification
  • food analysis
  • nutritional enhancement
  • food testing
  • metabolomics

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1210 KiB  
Article
Effect of Thermal Processing by Spray Drying on Key Ginger Compounds
by Alina Warren-Walker, Manfred Beckmann, Alison Watson, Steffan McAllister and Amanda J. Lloyd
Metabolites 2025, 15(6), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15060350 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 454
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Spray drying is a technique widely employed in the food and nutraceutical industries to convert liquid extracts into stable powders, preserving their functional properties. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is rich in bioactive compounds such as gingerols, shogaols, and zingerone, which contribute [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Spray drying is a technique widely employed in the food and nutraceutical industries to convert liquid extracts into stable powders, preserving their functional properties. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is rich in bioactive compounds such as gingerols, shogaols, and zingerone, which contribute to its health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the impact of spray drying on the chemical profile of ginger, particularly focusing on the transformation of gingerols into shogaols and related compounds. Methods: Fresh ginger juice was spray-dried using various carrier agents, including Clear Gum (CO03), pea protein, and inulin. Mass spectra of the resulting powders were acquired using High-Resolution Flow Infusion Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (HR-FIE-MS) to obtain fingerprint data. Key bioactive compounds were tentatively identified to Level 2, and their relative intensities were assessed to evaluate the effects of different carriers on the chemical composition of the ginger powders. Results: Spray drying with the commercial carrier CO03 resulted in an increase in shogaol analogues ([10]-, [8]-, and cis-[8]-shogaol), gingerenone B, and oxidation products such as 6-hydroxyshogaol, 6-dehydroshogaol, and zingerone. In contrast, natural carriers like pea protein and inulin led to lower relative intensities of these bioactives, suggesting limited capacity for promoting thermal transformations. Spray drying without a carrier produced a shogaol-dominant profile but resulted in powders with poor handling properties, such as stickiness and agglomeration. Antioxidant and total polyphenol assays showed that spray drying reduced antioxidant capacity, while total polyphenol content was more preserved; natural carriers such as inulin better maintained bioactivity compared to modified starch or pea protein. Conclusions: Among the five formulations evaluated—ginger juice with no carrier, with CO03 (two dilutions), pea protein, or inulin—CO03-based samples showed the greatest chemical transformation, while inulin and pea protein better preserved antioxidant capacity but induced fewer metabolite changes. Thus, choice of carrier in the spray-drying process influences the chemical profile and functional characteristics of resultant ginger powders. While CO03 effectively enhances the formation of bioactive shogaols and related compounds, its ultra-processed nature may not align with clean-label product trends. Natural carriers, although more label-friendly, may not create the desired chemical transformations. Therefore, optimising carrier selection is important to balance bioactivity, product stability, and consumer acceptability in the development of ginger-based functional products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Food Metabolomics for Functional Food Development and Analysis)
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15 pages, 1523 KiB  
Article
Urinary Hippuric Acid as a Sex-Dependent Biomarker for Fruit and Nut Intake Raised from the EAT-Lancet Index and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analysis
by Edwin Fernández-Cruz, Víctor de la O, Cristina M. Fernández-Diaz, Pilar Matía-Martín, M. Ángel Rubio-Herrera, Nuria Amigó, Alfonso L. Calle-Pascual and J. Alfredo Martínez
Metabolites 2025, 15(6), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15060348 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 405
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Assessing nutrient intake is essential for understanding body homeostasis and diet–health interactions. Traditional methods, such as dietary questionnaires and quality indices, are limited by subjectivity and variability in food composition tables. Metabolomic markers, like urinary hippuric acid, provide an objective means [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Assessing nutrient intake is essential for understanding body homeostasis and diet–health interactions. Traditional methods, such as dietary questionnaires and quality indices, are limited by subjectivity and variability in food composition tables. Metabolomic markers, like urinary hippuric acid, provide an objective means to estimate food and nutrient intake, helping to link dietary patterns with metabolic outputs and health outcomes. This study uniquely evaluates urinary hippuric acid as a putative biomarker of nut intake, expanding the previously known role as a fruit intake marker, and investigates sex-related differences in the excretion. Methods: Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, 34 urinary metabolites from 138 participants (69.7% women) in the Dietary Deal project were analyzed. Metabolite concentrations were categorized by median adherence to the EAT-Lancet score (≤p50 or >p50). A validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) assessed dietary and energy intake. Correlation analyses linked metabolites to the 14 EAT-Lancet food groups, and a linear regression adjusted model examined associations between urinary hippuric acid and fruit/nut consumption, with sensitivity analysis for sex. Results: The EAT-Lancet index, stratified by median adherence, effectively distinguished between high and low dietary intake of fruits (p = 0.012) and nuts (p < 0.001). Urinary hippuric acid concentrations were found to be influenced by sex (p = 0.020), with females showing a 44.7% higher mean concentration. Overall, urinary hippuric acid levels were positively associated with FFQ-estimated nut consumption (p = 0.049), providing the first evidence of potential suitability as a nut intake biomarker. Conclusions: Hippuric acid emerges as a promising dietary biomarker for assessing nut intake in healthy populations. This study provides novel insights that extend the application of hippuric acid to dietary nut assessment and emphasizes the importance of a sex-specific interpretation for precision nutrition purposes using NMR technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Food Metabolomics for Functional Food Development and Analysis)
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