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Nutrition and Exercise in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025 | Viewed by 87

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia
Interests: exercise; nutrition; muscle biochemistry; chronic diseases; hypoxia; mitochondria

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Guest Editor
Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Interests: the influence of habitual eating habits and physical activity on health and performance; the detrimental effects of excess sugar consumption and the influence of non-nutritive sweeteners in sugar withdrawal and recovery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide continues to impact individuals’ quality of life and strain healthcare systems. Addressing this challenge requires the development of more effective and innovative strategies for prevention and treatment. Nutrition plays a critical role in optimising metabolic health and acts as a protective shield against chronic diseases. Additionally, exercise has gained widespread recognition as an essential "medicine" for the prevention and treatment of these conditions.

This Special Issue aims to explore the unique effects of nutrition, exercise, and their combination in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Studies included in this Special Issue should cover a broad spectrum of topics, including the distinct and synergistic effects of dietary interventions and exercise, as well as the roles of micro- and macronutrients in metabolic processes. Research on cultural dietary and exercise practices, along with the potential of personalised nutrition and exercise strategies, is also welcome to be submitted.

This Special Issue aims to not only expand the scientific body of knowledge but also provide individuals and communities with valuable insights and pathways to combat chronic diseases. By highlighting the transformative potential of nutrition and exercise, the contributions within this Special Issue should aim to open up new horizons to achieve global health goals. We warmly invite researchers to contribute their original and innovative studies on nutrition and exercise to this exciting endeavor to advance the scientific literature.

Dr. Xu (Sean) Yan
Dr. Kieron Rooney
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. 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

  • exercise
  • training
  • physical activity
  • micronutrients and macronutrients
  • chronic diseases
  • dietary supplements
  • metabolic health
  • diet and exercise
  • personalised nutrition
  • habitual eating
  • cultural dietary habits
  • hormonal balance
  • inflammation
  • cardiovascular health
  • diabetes
  • obesity
  • biochemical mechanisms

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

21 pages, 748 KiB  
Review
The Role of Plant-Based Nutrition and Exercise in Metabolic Syndrome: A Narrative Review
by James Stavitz, Ryan Porcelli and Jennifer Gentile
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1498; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091498 - 29 Apr 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent health condition characterized by central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle interventions, particularly plant-based nutrition and exercise, are essential for managing MetS. While both strategies [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent health condition characterized by central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle interventions, particularly plant-based nutrition and exercise, are essential for managing MetS. While both strategies are well-documented independently, their synergistic effects remain less explored. This narrative review integrates findings from both domains to evaluate their combined impact on metabolic syndrome. The review examines the individual and combined impacts of plant-based nutrition and exercise on MetS-related metabolic dysfunction. Methods: A comprehensive review of 114 peer-reviewed studies was conducted to assess the role of plant-based diets and structured physical activity in improving insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, inflammation, and weight management. Studies investigating the mechanisms through which dietary components and exercise modalities influence metabolic health were analyzed, along with behavioral and psychological factors affecting long-term adherence. Results: Plant-based diets, particularly those high in fiber, polyphenols, and healthy fats, improve glucose metabolism, reduce inflammation, and enhance cardiovascular health. Exercise complements these benefits by increasing insulin sensitivity, promoting fat oxidation, and improving lipid metabolism. When combined, plant-based nutrition and exercise provide superior metabolic outcomes, including greater reductions in visceral adiposity, improved endothelial function, and enhanced glycemic control. Conclusions: Plant-based nutrition and structured exercise are effective strategies for managing MetS. Their synergistic effects highlight the importance of integrated lifestyle interventions for long-term metabolic health. Full article
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