Dietary Supplements in Clinical and Translational Practice: Mechanisms, Applications and Future Directions

A special issue of Nutraceuticals (ISSN 1661-3821).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 1671

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
Interests: pharmacology; oxidative stress; supplements; nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
Interests: pharmacology; nutrition; supplements; antidepressant medication; oxidative stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
Interests: biochemistry; nutrition; food; supplements; phytosterols
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of dietary supplements is rapidly expanding and is situated at the intersection of nutrition, pharmacology and personalized medicine. Although their use is widespread, both among the general population and patients, the level of scientific evidence supporting their efficacy and safety varies considerably. This Special Issue aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform for recent studies on dietary supplements, covering their mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, drug interactions, regulatory aspects and product quality. We additionally seek rigorously conducted research studies, distinguishing between those that offer real therapeutic potential and those that hold commercial promise without scientific support. We welcome original contributions, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and case studies, aiming to promote the informed and responsible use of dietary supplements in modern medical practice.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The molecular mechanisms of action of dietary supplements.
  • Clinical evidence for supplement efficacy.
  • Drug–supplement interactions and clinical implications.
  • Quality control and regulatory challenges in the supplement industry.
  • Public health perspectives on supplement use.
  • The use of dietary supplements in special populations.
  • The psychological and behavioral dimensions of supplement use.
  • Integrative and complementary medicine-based approaches involving supplements.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Applied Sciences.

Dr. George Jitca
Prof. Dr. Amelia Tero-Vescan
Dr. Bianca-Eugenia Ősz
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. Nutraceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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

  • dietary supplements
  • nutrient&ndash
  • drug interactions
  • safety
  • phytonutrients
  • therapeutic efficacy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 304 KB  
Article
Nutritional Analysis of Commercial Protein Powder Supplements in the Greek Market: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Meat- and Plant-Based Products
by Anastasia Markaki, Maria Nikolakaki, Despoina Io Pantezou, Nikolaos Thalassinos and Vassilios Raikos
Nutraceuticals 2025, 5(4), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/nutraceuticals5040032 - 13 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1150
Abstract
Protein supplements are popular nutritional supplements consumed primarily by physically active individuals with increased protein demands. Despite the increasing consumer demand for protein supplements in Greece, detailed and comparative data on the nutritional profile of such products is scarce. The purpose of this [...] Read more.
Protein supplements are popular nutritional supplements consumed primarily by physically active individuals with increased protein demands. Despite the increasing consumer demand for protein supplements in Greece, detailed and comparative data on the nutritional profile of such products is scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritional quality of protein powder supplements available in the Greek market and to compare animal- with plant-based products. Data was extracted from the websites of the major retailers (n = 28). In total, 216 products were identified and grouped as animal- and plant-based, depending on the protein origin. Animal-based products were predominantly (84.0%) produced from whey. Protein content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in animal-based products, providing 43.5% of the reference intake (RI) for men and 53.2% for women per serving. The content of essential amino acids (EAAs), branched amino acids (BCAAs) and alanine (Ala) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in animal-based products (median: 11.0, 5.3 and 1.2 g/serving) compared with plant-based alternatives (median: 8.4, 4.0 and 1.0 g/serving size). Plant-based protein supplements contained significantly higher (p < 0.05) content of fiber, fat and salt and were more energy-dense per 100 g. Mean serving size was larger for animal-based products (29.9 ± 0.4 g) compared with the plant-based ones (28.1 ± 0.5 g). Animal-based supplements were more expensive to purchase by 4.3 € per kg. Overall, animal-based protein powder supplements show a more desirable nutritional profile regarding protein content and quality. Results of this study can serve as a tool for consumers to make informed and healthy choices and for health professionals to provide effective and personalized guidance based on the nutritional content of products. Full article
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