Effects of Micronutrients on Human Metabolism

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 255

Special Issue Editor

Department of Nutrition Science and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
Interests: role of iron homeostasis regulation in metabolic diseases such as atherosclerosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and type II diabetes; the molecular mechanisms of nutritional interventions with phytochemicals and micronutrients
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, titled "Effects of Micronutrients on Human Metabolism", aims to provide a comprehensive and cutting-edge exploration of the intricate relationship between micronutrients and human metabolic processes. Micronutrients, essential yet often overlooked components of our diet, play pivotal roles in regulating a wide array of metabolic pathways that underpin human health and disease. This Special Issue seeks to bring together leading researchers and practitioners from diverse fields, including nutrition, biochemistry, metabolism, and clinical medicine, to share their latest findings and insights.

The focus of this Special Issue will be on elucidating the mechanisms by which micronutrients influence metabolic homeostasis, as well as examining the potential therapeutic implications of these findings. Contributions are invited that address topics such as the roles of vitamins and minerals in energy metabolism, antioxidant defense, and cellular signaling; the impact of micronutrient deficiencies and excesses on metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease; and the use of micronutrient interventions to modify metabolic risk factors and improve health outcomes.

We encourage authors to submit original research articles, review articles, case studies, and short communications that offer novel perspectives, innovative methodologies, and robust data on the effects of micronutrients on human metabolism. Contributions should be well structured, clearly written, and rigorously peer reviewed to ensure their highest quality and impact.

This Special Issue presents a unique opportunity for the global scientific community to advance our understanding of the critical role of micronutrients in human metabolism and to identify new avenues for research and clinical practice. We look forward to receiving your contributions and to publishing a collection of groundbreaking work that will shape the future of nutrition and metabolic health.

Dr. Lin Xiao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • micronutrients
  • trace minerals
  • vitamins
  • human metabolism
  • metabolic processes
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • cardiovascular disease

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

27 pages, 1713 KiB  
Article
Vitamin B12 and Folate in Adherent and Non-Adherent Individuals with Phenylketonuria: A Cross-Sectional Study, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis
by Kamila Bokayeva, Małgorzata Jamka, Dariusz Walkowiak, Monika Duś-Żuchowska, Łukasz Kałużny, Natalia Wichłacz-Trojanowska, Agnieszka Chrobot, Renata Mozrzymas, Gulnara Sultanova, Karl-Heinz Herzig and Jarosław Walkowiak
Metabolites 2025, 15(7), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15070438 - 1 Jul 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The impact of dietary adherence and regular formula intake on the vitamin levels in individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the influence of both adherence to dietary management and regular formula intake on the vitamin B12 and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The impact of dietary adherence and regular formula intake on the vitamin levels in individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the influence of both adherence to dietary management and regular formula intake on the vitamin B12 and folate levels in individuals with PKU. Methods: This cross-sectional multicentre study included 63 patients with PKU aged 12–41 years. The participants were classified as adherent or non-adherent based on their mean plasma phenylalanine levels or as regular or irregular formula consumers. The participants’ vitamin B12 and folate levels were compared across these groups. In addition, a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library identified 11,631 studies comparing vitamin B12 and folate levels between adherent vs. non-adherent patients and regular vs. irregular formula intake groups, of which eight met the inclusion criteria. Analyses were conducted using random-effects and fixed-effects models and effect sizes were expressed as standardised mean differences (SMDs). Results: This cross-sectional study showed significantly higher vitamin B12 and folate levels in adherent vs. non-adherent individuals (767.6 ± 264.5 vs. 524.7 ± 216.4 pg/mL; 13.44 ± 1.96 vs. 10.62 ± 3.36 ng/mL, both p < 0.001) and in regular vs. irregular formula consumers (746.7 ± 228.4 vs. 527.4 ± 281.9 pg/mL; 13.32 ± 2.25 vs. 10.48 ± 3.23 ng/mL, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001 respectively). The meta-analysis found no significant differences between the adherent and non-adherent groups, which were defined based on their phenylalanine levels, but showed higher vitamin B12 levels (fixed-effects model, SMD: 1.080, 95% CI: 0.754, 1.405, p < 0.0001) and a near-significant trend toward higher folate levels (random-effects model, SMD: 0.729, 95% CI: −0.032, 1.490, p = 0.061) in regular formula consumers. Conclusions: Regular formula intake is a key determinant of vitamin B12 in patients with PKU. These findings highlight the importance of consistent formula use in dietary management and warrant further research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Micronutrients on Human Metabolism)
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