Gut Microbiota–Diet Interactions in Obesity and Metabolic Regulation
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: obesity management; metabolism; gut microbiota; microbiome; gut–brain axis, intestinal permeability; nutrition and dietetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: gut microbiota; high fat diet; gut; inflammation; lipid; nutrition and dietetics; microbiome, gut–brain axis, polyphenols
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The prevalence of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, has dramatically increased worldwide, largely attributed to the widespread consumption of an imbalanced, calory-dense, low-fiber diet and sedentary lifestyle. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders by interacting with dietary components. For instance, high-fat, high-sugar and low-fiber diets decrease microbial diversity, promoting gut dysbiosis, which is characterized by a decrease in beneficial bacteria and an increase in opportunistic pathogens. The production of bacteria-derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), also affects host physiology by influencing satiety hormone secretions, counteracting inflammation, and improving energy homeostasis. The balance between favourable SCFAs (e.g., butyrate, propionate, acetate) and disadvantageous metabolites (e.g., trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), certain secondary bile acids (e.g., deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), as well as indole and phenolic compounds, can be disrupted in obesity, leading to increased cardiovascular disease risk. Dietary interventions, including prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber-rich whole foods, have shown promise in reshaping the gut microbiota towards a healthier profile, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate obesity and improve metabolic health. Understanding these complex gut microbiota-diet interactions is essential for developing targeted nutritional approaches for effective weight management and metabolic disease prevention in modern society.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute an article to a Special Issue on the topic of Gut Microbiota–Diet Interactions in Obesity and Metabolic Regulation. This Special Issue aims to collect articles on the overarching theme of the interplay between diet and the gut microbiota in relation to metabolism and obesity. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: host-microbiome interactions, gut metabolites, obesity, metabolic syndrome, metabolic regulation, dietary impact on gut microbiome composition.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Olena Prykhodko
Dr. Frida Hållenius
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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
- gut microbiome
- metabolic disorders
- obesity
- dietary fibres
- polyphenols
- short-chain fatty acids
- bacterial metabolites
- inflammation
- leaky gut
- prebiotics
- probiotics
- bile acids
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