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Research Progress on Immune and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Food Active Substances

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemicals and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 4770

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Margarida Castell Escuer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
2. Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), UB, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: flavonoids; antioxidants; allergy; inflammation; immunomodulation; methylxanthines; sport
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Malen Massot-Cladera

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Section of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
2. Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
Interests: flavonoids; polyphenols; cocoa; hesperidin; methylxanthines; antioxidants; allergies; immunonutrition; immunomodulation; immune system; microbiota; antibody; sport; prebiotics; probiotics; postbiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is growing interest in the potential of specific nutrients to modulate immune system function and inflammatory processes. While it is widely believed that certain dietary components may enhance immune responses or mitigate inflammation, such claims are not always substantiated by rigorous scientific evidence. This Special Issue provides an opportunity to present clinical, preclinical, or in vitro studies that provide mechanistic and functional insights into the effects of specific foods or food-derived compounds on immune function.

We welcome contributions that examine both the beneficial and adverse effects of dietary constituents on systemic and mucosal immune systems. Relevant topics include the impact of nutrition on immune responses to infections, allergies, vaccination, hypersensitivity reactions, and both acute and chronic inflammatory processes. Manuscripts addressing the impact of diet on age-related immune deficiencies, such as immunosenescence or the immature immune system in early life, are also encouraged.

This Special Issue seeks to bring together original research articles and comprehensive reviews that critically evaluate the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of dietary components.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Margarida Castell Escuer
Dr. Malen Massot-Cladera
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. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2900 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

  • macrophages
  • lymphocytes
  • cytokines
  • antibodies
  • tolerance
  • hypersensitivity
  • infection
  • inflammation
  • thymus
  • spleen

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1944 KB  
Article
Phytochemicals Prime RIG-I Signaling and Th1-Leaning Responses in Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
by Kaho Ohki, Takumi Iwasawa and Kazunori Kato
Nutrients 2025, 17(22), 3539; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223539 - 12 Nov 2025
Viewed by 297
Abstract
Background/Objective: Dendritic cells (DCs) act as sentinels bridging innate and adaptive immunity, and their functions are strongly influenced by dietary and environmental factors. Phytochemicals such as α-Mangostin (A phytochemical, a xanthone derivative from Garcinia mangostina, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties) [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Dendritic cells (DCs) act as sentinels bridging innate and adaptive immunity, and their functions are strongly influenced by dietary and environmental factors. Phytochemicals such as α-Mangostin (A phytochemical, a xanthone derivative from Garcinia mangostina, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties) are widely recognized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but their potential to modulate antiviral pattern recognition pathways remains unclear. This study investigated whether phytochemicals activate retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I: DDX58, a cytosolic receptor recognizing viral RNA and inducing antiviral responses)–dependent signaling in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) and affect downstream T cell responses. Methods: MoDCs were generated from peripheral blood and stimulated with selected phytochemicals. RIG-I pathway–related transcripts were quantified by qPCR, and protein expression was assessed by Western blotting, intracellular flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence staining. Functional outcomes were evaluated by co-culturing MoDCs with T cells, followed by phenotypic analysis via flow cytometry and measurement of IFN-γ production by ELISA. Results: α-Mangostin stimulation increased RIG-I (DDX58) mRNA levels in MoDCs and induced time-dependent changes in intracellular protein expression. In co-culture, α-Mangostin–treated MoDCs tended to increase the proportion of OX40+ 4-1BB+ CD4+ T cells, accompanied by a significant elevation of IFN-γ levels in supernatants. Experiments with CpG-ODN (synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides mimicking bacterial DNA that activate TLR9) suggested context-dependent crosstalk between the TLR9 and RIG-I signaling axes. Conclusions: Phytochemicals, exemplified by α-Mangostin, prime antiviral responses in human DCs through upregulation of RIG-I and promote Th1-dependent immune responses. These findings suggest that phytochemicals may represent promising nutritional strategies to enhance antiviral immunity while mitigating excessive inflammation under infectious conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress on Immune and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Food Active Substances)
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Review

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40 pages, 1037 KB  
Review
Can Dietary Supplements Support Muscle Function and Physical Activity? A Narrative Review
by Louise Brough, Gail Rees, Lylah Drummond-Clarke, Jennifer E. McCallum, Elisabeth Taylor, Oleksii Kozhevnikov and Steven Walker
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3495; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213495 - 6 Nov 2025
Viewed by 4240
Abstract
Dietary supplementation is commonly used by athletes to gain muscle mass, enhance performance, and improve recovery. Most adults engage in insufficient physical activity. Yet healthy muscles are also critical for activities of daily living (ADLs), maintaining a good quality of life and positive [...] Read more.
Dietary supplementation is commonly used by athletes to gain muscle mass, enhance performance, and improve recovery. Most adults engage in insufficient physical activity. Yet healthy muscles are also critical for activities of daily living (ADLs), maintaining a good quality of life and positive ageing. There is growing interest in whether dietary supplementation is of value, particularly among subgroups such as the occasionally active, the ill and elderly, and peri- and menopausal women. By focusing on function, performance, mass and strength, ADLs, exercise-induced muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness, this review sought to examine muscle health through a nutritional lens. Further, to look at the potential benefits and harms of some commonly proposed dietary supplements in non-athlete adults, while exploring the emerging role of the gut–muscle axis. Inflammation appears central to cellular events. Several supplements were identified that, alone or in combination, may help optimise muscle health, particularly when combined with exercise or where a deficit may exist. Although supportive evidence is emerging, real-world clinical benefits remain to be substantiated. Though dietary supplements are generally safe, their regulation is less stringent than for medicines. Adherence to recommended dosage, seeking medical advice regarding possible side effects/interactions, and obtaining supplies from reliable sources are recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress on Immune and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Food Active Substances)
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