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Nutrients
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Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation, and Metabolism (2nd Edition)
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Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation, and Metabolism (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2025 | Viewed by 3315

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaohua Pan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: nutrition; immunometabolism; gut microbiota; inflammatory bowel disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yun Ji

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: nutrition; gut microbiota; IBD; NAFLD; intestinal barrier function
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The process of nutrient utilization, which involves digestion, absorption, energy transformation, and metabolism, is a key physiological foundation for the optimal functioning of human organs and overall health. The disordered utilization of nutrients increases the risk of nutritional and metabolic diseases, including undernutrition, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus, etc. It is notable that the bioavailability of nutrients is affected by intrinsic human factors, such as age, gender, and physical activity, as well as dietary factors such as food matrix and origin, processing conditions, and food additives/dietary supplements. Additionally, growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a key role in the acquisition, storage, and expenditure of energy that is obtained from the diet, with its production of digestive enzymes and metabolic products and its synthesis of micronutrients.

This Special Issue invites authors to share their novel research or comprehensive reviews, with the aim of advancing our understanding of nutrient digestion, absorption, energy transformation, and metabolism. The topics addressed may include, but are not limited to:

  • Nutritional requirements and the metabolic pattern of particular populations, such as infants, pregnant women, elderly people, and patients with metabolic disorders;
  • The interactions between dietary nutrients, the gut microbiota, and host metabolism and health;
  • The effect and molecular action of the food matrix/origin, processing conditions, and food additives/dietary supplements on nutrient utilization;

Strategies to improve nutrient bioavailability and health, such as microcapsule/nano delivery systems, dietary supplements/ probiotics/prebiotics, etc.

Dr. Xiaohua Pan
Dr. Yun Ji
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

  • nutrient digestion
  • absorption
  • energy metabolism
  • malnutrition
  • metabolic disorders
  • gut microbiota
  • food additives
  • food processing
  • probiotics

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 10860 KiB  
Article
Glutamate Supplementation Regulates Nitrogen Metabolism in the Colon and Liver of Weaned Rats Fed a Low-Protein Diet
by Da Jiang, Jing Zhang, Yun Ji, Zhaolai Dai, Ying Yang and Zhenlong Wu
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1465; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091465 - 26 Apr 2025
Viewed by 196
Abstract
Background: Glutamate, a nutritionally non-essential amino acid, is a key intermediate in nitrogen metabolism. Despite more studies on its functional role in intestine health, it remains unknown how glutamate regulates nitrogen metabolism in animals fed a low-protein diet. Methods: Herein, we [...] Read more.
Background: Glutamate, a nutritionally non-essential amino acid, is a key intermediate in nitrogen metabolism. Despite more studies on its functional role in intestine health, it remains unknown how glutamate regulates nitrogen metabolism in animals fed a low-protein diet. Methods: Herein, we investigated the effects of glutamate supplementation on colonic amino acid transport, barrier protein expression, microbiota alterations, fecal nitrogen emissions, hepatic amino acid transport, and protein synthesis in weaned rats. Results: We found that protein restriction diminished the mucus thickness, reduced goblet cell numbers, and the expression of EAAT3, y+LAT2 in the colon. In contrast, glutamate supplementation reversed these effects, increasing the colon length and enhancing the expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1 in the colon. At the genus level, glutamate increased the abundance of Lactococcus and Clostridia_sensu_stricto_18. Additionally, glutamate supplementation resulted in an increased apparent nitrogen digestibility, reduced the ratio of fecal nitrogen to total nitrogen intake, and increased the ratio of fecal microbial nitrogen to total nitrogen intake. Protein restriction decreased the mRNA level of ATP1A1, EAAT3, SNAT9/2, and ASCT2, and the protein level of p-mTOR, mTOR, p-mTOR/mTOR, and p-p70S6K/p70S6K as well as p-4EBP1/4EBP1 in the liver. These effects were reversed by glutamate supplementation. Conclusions: In conclusion, glutamate supplementation upregulates amino acid transporters and barrier protein expression in the colon, modulates microbiota composition to reduce fecal nitrogen excretion, and enhances amino acid transport and protein synthesis in the liver by activating the mTOR/p70S6K/4EBP1 pathway, which influences nitrogen metabolism in weaned rats fed a low-protein diet. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation, and Metabolism (2nd Edition))
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18 pages, 94195 KiB  
Article
Tryptophan Attenuates Chronic Restraint Stress-Induced Intestinal Injury Through Modulation of Intestinal Barrier Integrity and Gut Microbiota Homeostasis
by Jianhua Zheng, Tianqi Sun, Tongtong Qin, Yunpeng Wu, Wensheng Zhang, Yefeng Qiu and Jingqing Chen
Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17060975 - 11 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Background: Chronic stress is associated with detrimental effects on physical health, such as chronic restraint stress (CRS), which can damage the intestinal tract. Although tryptophan has many benefits in maintaining intestinal health, the underlying mechanism of its protective effects against stress-induced intestinal injury [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic stress is associated with detrimental effects on physical health, such as chronic restraint stress (CRS), which can damage the intestinal tract. Although tryptophan has many benefits in maintaining intestinal health, the underlying mechanism of its protective effects against stress-induced intestinal injury remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we constructed a CRS model by using a behavioral restraint device in which mice were restrained for 6 h per day over 14 days and investigated the effects, as well as the potential mechanism of a high-tryptophan diet (0.4% tryptophan), on CRS-induced intestinal injury using scanning electron microscopy, 16S rRNA sequencing, and LC-MS. Results: A 0.4% tryptophan diet (fed ad libitum for 24 days) attenuated CRS-induced pathologies, including weight loss, elevated corticosterone, intestinal barrier injury, increased permeability, and epithelial apoptosis. Tryptophan modulated the gut microbiota composition in CRS-induced mice, increasing the abundance of Bacteroidota and decreasing the abundance of Firmicutes, as well as enhancing metabolic function through pathways identified by KEGG analysis. Additionally, tryptophan restored the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, and valeric acids. Correlation analyses showed interactions between tryptophan, intestinal permeability, SCFAs, and gut microbiota. Conclusions: Tryptophan supplementation attenuates CRS-induced intestinal injury by modulating intestinal barrier integrity and gut microbiota homeostasis, and the beneficial effects are largely associated with the SCFA-mediated regulation of intestinal permeability and microbiota-associated energy metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation, and Metabolism (2nd Edition))
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Other

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20 pages, 1390 KiB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Isotopically Measured Iron Absorption in Infants and Children Under 2 Years
by Samantha Gallahan, Stephanie Brower, Hannah Wapshott-Stehli, Joelle Santos and Thao T. B. Ho
Nutrients 2024, 16(22), 3834; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223834 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 2004
Abstract
Background: Iron is an essential element for critical biological functions, with iron deficiency negatively affecting growth and brain development and iron excess associated with adverse effects. The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive assessment of up-to-date evidence on iron absorption [...] Read more.
Background: Iron is an essential element for critical biological functions, with iron deficiency negatively affecting growth and brain development and iron excess associated with adverse effects. The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive assessment of up-to-date evidence on iron absorption measured isotopically in children, preterm infants, and full-term infants, up to 24 months of age. Methods: Search databases included Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus from a date range of 1 January 1953 to 22 July 2024. The included articles were experimental studies with iron absorption outcomes measured by isotopic techniques. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Results: A total of 1594 records were identified from databases, and 37 studies were included in the quality review with a total of 1531 participants. Article results were grouped by study commonality: absorption and red blood cell incorporation, type of milk feedings, additives to improve absorption, how and when to supplement with iron, and iron forms and complimentary foods. Conclusions: The results from this review support the current recommendations of oral iron supplementation. Iron from breast milk has high bioavailability, and unmodified cow’s milk reduces iron absorption. Supplemental iron is required at 4–6 months for healthy, full-term infants and sooner for preterm infants. Ascorbic acid increases iron absorption in full-term infants and children. Lactoferrin and prebiotics are promising candidates for enhancing iron absorption, but they require further investigation. Research evidence of iron absorption mechanisms and modulating factors in preterm infants is limited and should be a research priority. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation, and Metabolism (2nd Edition))
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