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Dietary Supplements in Clinical and Translational Practice: Mechanisms, Applications and...
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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 2026 | Viewed by 8587

Special Issue Editors

Dr. George Jitca

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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
Prof. Dr. Amelia Tero-Vescan

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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
Dr. Bianca-Eugenia Ősz

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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: 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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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 1200 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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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1173 KB  
Article
Modulation of Iron Homeostasis by Hepcidin in Response to Elevated Dietary Vitamin D Intake in Rats: An Exploratory Study
by Yukiko Kobayashi, Tomoya Hiraishi, Ayane Tatara, Wataru Aoi and Masashi Kuwahata
Nutraceuticals 2026, 6(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/nutraceuticals6010004 - 7 Jan 2026
Viewed by 282
Abstract
The interrelationship between iron metabolism and vitamin D has attracted increasing attention; however, nutritional knowledge regarding the relationship between iron and vitamin D remains scarce. We hypothesized that a continuous increase in dietary vitamin D intake would enhance biological iron levels through the [...] Read more.
The interrelationship between iron metabolism and vitamin D has attracted increasing attention; however, nutritional knowledge regarding the relationship between iron and vitamin D remains scarce. We hypothesized that a continuous increase in dietary vitamin D intake would enhance biological iron levels through the regulation of hepcidin, and we investigated whether dietary vitamin D levels alter iron dynamics and blood cell status. Twenty-five male Wistar rats aged 7 and 8 weeks were used in experiments 1 (14 days) and 2 (4 days), respectively. Rats were divided into control and vitamin D-supplemented diet groups (14C vs. 14A in Experiment 1; 4C vs. 4A in Experiment 2) and fed the experimental diet ad libitum. In Experiment 2, no significant differences were observed in serum and liver iron levels, total iron-binding capacity, and serum transferrin saturation between groups; however, hepcidin (HAMP) mRNA expression was lower in the 4A group. By contrast, the 14A group showed significantly higher serum and liver iron levels and higher HAMP mRNA expression than the 14C group. These results indicate that high-dose dietary vitamin D alters iron metabolism in rats, characterized by transient suppression of hepatic hepcidin expression and increased liver iron, suggesting modulation of iron regulatory pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Supplements in Clinical and Translational Practice: Mechanisms, Applications and Future Directions)
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17 pages, 956 KB  
Article
A 28-Day Oral Toxicity Study in Wistar Rats for a Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Preparation, CAVACURMIN®
by Heiko Zipp, Marco Kellert, Natascha Lara Rivera, Sandra Schmid and Gerald Münch
Nutraceuticals 2026, 6(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/nutraceuticals6010002 - 22 Dec 2025
Viewed by 614
Abstract
Curcumin is widely used for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its poor oral bioavailability has driven the development of advanced formulations such as CAVACURMIN®, a γ-cyclodextrin-based curcumin complex with enhanced absorption. Given recent regulatory scrutiny of high-bioavailability curcumin products, we [...] Read more.
Curcumin is widely used for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its poor oral bioavailability has driven the development of advanced formulations such as CAVACURMIN®, a γ-cyclodextrin-based curcumin complex with enhanced absorption. Given recent regulatory scrutiny of high-bioavailability curcumin products, we evaluated the subacute oral safety of CAVACURMIN® in Wistar rats. Animals received 2000 mg/kg/day (low dose) or 3500 mg/kg/day (high dose) for 28 days, with controls receiving vehicle or γ-cyclodextrin alone. No mortality or systemic toxicity occurred, except for one incidental death unrelated to treatment. Transient post-dosing signs (salivation, bedding displacement) were attributed to local sensory or irritant effects. Clinical chemistry showed modest, non-adverse variations—including decreased urea (up to −25% in males) and increased albumin (up to +9% in females)—that were not associated with pathological or clinical abnormalities. All other parameters, including body weight, food intake, haematology, organ weights (except for a small, non-adverse liver-weight increase in high-dose females), and gross pathology, were comparable to controls. These findings demonstrate that CAVACURMIN® was well tolerated at doses up to 3500 mg/kg/day and provide a basis for subsequent OECD 408-compliant 90-day toxicity studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Supplements in Clinical and Translational Practice: Mechanisms, Applications and Future Directions)
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14 pages, 591 KB  
Article
Anti-Obesity Effects of Carnosine Supplementation and Exercise in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet with Concomitant UCP1 Expression in White Adipocytes
by Xun Shen, Moe Haruyama, Shizuka Murano and Tomoko Kaburagi
Nutraceuticals 2025, 5(4), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/nutraceuticals5040039 - 21 Nov 2025
Viewed by 869
Abstract
Obesity and obesity-related diseases represent increasingly serious global health challenges, and effective preventive strategies are urgently needed. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of carnosine and anserine, representative imidazole dipeptides known for their antioxidant and metabolic regulatory properties, using a mouse model of [...] Read more.
Obesity and obesity-related diseases represent increasingly serious global health challenges, and effective preventive strategies are urgently needed. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of carnosine and anserine, representative imidazole dipeptides known for their antioxidant and metabolic regulatory properties, using a mouse model of high-fat (HF) diet-induced obesity. Thirty 6-week-old male C57BL/6n mice were fed an HF diet (56% fat) for eight weeks. Carnosine or anserine was administered in drinking water ad libitum (4 mM). After one week of dietary acclimation, the mice were divided into sedentary and exercise groups (n = 5 per group). The exercise protocol consisted of treadmill running for 30 min/day at 9 m/min, five days per week, for seven consecutive weeks. The results demonstrated that only carnosine supplementation, and not anserine, significantly suppressed body weight gain, visceral white adipose tissue accumulation, and adipocyte hypertrophy induced by the HF diet. Moreover, carnosine supplementation enhanced uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in epididymal adipocytes and improved serum blood glucose levels. These findings indicate that carnosine exerts anti-obesity effects, potentially through the enhancement of thermogenic and metabolic pathways, and may have therapeutic potential as a dietary intervention for the prevention of obesity-related metabolic disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Supplements in Clinical and Translational Practice: Mechanisms, Applications and Future Directions)
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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 5992
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
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Supplements in Clinical and Translational Practice: Mechanisms, Applications and Future Directions)
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