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Nutrients
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Functional Foods and Sustainable Health (2nd Edition)
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Functional Foods and Sustainable Health (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2025 | Viewed by 6311

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yiannis Kourkoutas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
Interests: food microbiome; functional foods; fermented foods and beverages; food bioprocesses; agro-industrial and food waste valorization; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Amalia Yanni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 17671 Athens, Greece
Interests: food bioactive compounds; functional foods design; foods; nutrition; metabolic disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food properties and its components affect human physiology and metabolism, exerting a significant impact on health. Due to their promising beneficial effects on human body functions beyond nutrient adequacy, functional foods have gained increasing interest from the scientific community, consumers, and the food industry.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present state-of-the-art contributions discussing the role of functional foods in health sustainability. High-quality original research articles and up-to-date review papers focusing on food components (nutrient and non-nutrient bioactives, novel functional ingredients, etc.), the specific bioactivity of -biotics (probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics), and studies investigating the underlying mechanisms connecting functional foods/ingredients with beneficial effects on target body functions are within the scope of this Special Issue. The sustainable utilization of by-products and innovative technologies for functional food development are also welcome. 

Dr. Yiannis Kourkoutas
Dr. Amalia Yanni
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

  • human wellbeing
  • healthy lifestyle
  • functional food ingredients
  • sustainability
  • food by-products
  • prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics
  • nutrition

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2192 KiB  
Article
Heat-Killed Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis 557 Extracts Protect Chondrocytes from Osteoarthritis Damage by Reducing Inflammation: An In Vitro Study
by Yu-Chen Hu, Tzu-Ching Huang, Bau-Shan Hsieh, Li-Wen Huang, Jin-Seng Lin, Han-Yin Hsu, Chia-Chia Lee and Kee-Lung Chang
Nutrients 2024, 16(24), 4417; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244417 - 23 Dec 2024
Viewed by 2104
Abstract
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition characterized by joint pain and disability, driven by excessive oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine production in chondrocytes, resulting in cell death and cartilage matrix breakdown. Our previous study showed that in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rats, [...] Read more.
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition characterized by joint pain and disability, driven by excessive oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine production in chondrocytes, resulting in cell death and cartilage matrix breakdown. Our previous study showed that in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rats, oral administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis 557 (LDL557) could significantly decrease OA progression. Methods: Accordingly, we designed an in vitro cell culture study aimed at investigating the effects of heat-killed LDL557 extracts on chondrocytes using SW1353 cells (a human chondrosarcoma cell line) challenged with 5 μM MIA to mimic OA conditions. Results: The results showed that the 10 μg/mL LDL557 extracts protected SW1353 cells from MIA-induced death and reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) loss, as evaluated by toluidine blue O staining and extracellular matrix component synthesis with RT-qPCR measurement. This was achieved by decreasing the expression of MIA-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, while slightly increasing the MIA-suppressed expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, which were evidenced by RT-qPCR analysis. Moreover, the RT-qPCR evaluation also indicated that the LDL557 extracts slightly reduced the expression of COX-2 compared with the control, while it did not reduce the MIA-increased expression of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1). In addition, the LDL557 extracts influenced neither the matrix-degrading protease expressions measured via RT-qPCR nor the oxidative stress measured via fluorescence flow cytometry in the cells with or without the MIA challenge. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that LDL557 extracts may protect chondrocytes from OA damage by reducing inflammation-related factors and thus mitigating cartilage matrix loss, suggesting LDL557 extracts are attractive alternatives for OA applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health (2nd Edition))
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23 pages, 1834 KiB  
Article
Functional Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Blood Parameters in Diabetic Rats Following Dietary Intervention with Free or Immobilized Pediococcus acidilactici SK Cells on Pistachio Nuts
by Ioanna Prapa, Amalia E. Yanni, Vasiliki Kompoura, Gregoria Mitropoulou, Panayiotis Panas, Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos and Yiannis Kourkoutas
Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4221; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234221 - 6 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1283
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The gut microbiota is linked to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), while supplementation with probiotics may result in positive alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome. This research aimed to map the changes in the gut microbiome and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The gut microbiota is linked to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), while supplementation with probiotics may result in positive alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome. This research aimed to map the changes in the gut microbiome and blood markers of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after a dietary intervention with free or immobilized cells of the presumptive probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici SK on pistachio nuts. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were studied and divided into four groups (healthy or diabetic) which received the free or the immobilized P. acidilactici SK cells on pistachio nuts for 4 weeks. Blood, fecal, and intestinal tissue samples were examined. Results: The diabetic rats exhibited an elevated concentration of HDL-c, while the inflammatory IL-1β levels were significantly lower in the diabetic animals that received the immobilized cells compared to the group that received the free cells. The dietary intervention with immobilized cells led to decreased counts of fecal staphylococci and enterococci in the diabetic animals, while the diet with both free and immobilized P. acidilactici SK cells rendered levels of these populations in normal values in the feces and intestinal tissue of the diabetic animals. Noticeably, the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera were elevated after the supplementation with immobilized P. acidilactici SK cells on pistachio nuts. Conclusions: Dietary supplementation with P. acidilactici SK cells (in free or in immobilized form) beneficially affected the gut microbiota/microbiome of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, leading to the alleviation of dysbiosis and inflammation and control over their lipid levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health (2nd Edition))
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Review

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12 pages, 506 KiB  
Review
Monk Fruit Extract and Sustainable Health: A PRISMA-Guided Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
by Urszula Kaim and Karolina Labus
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1433; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091433 - 24 Apr 2025
Viewed by 751
Abstract
Sustainable health approaches promote functional food alternatives that support metabolic well-being while reducing reliance on added sugars and artificial sweeteners. Monk fruit extract (MFE), a natural, non-caloric sweetener, is gaining interest for its potential metabolic benefits, but its effects and regulatory status require [...] Read more.
Sustainable health approaches promote functional food alternatives that support metabolic well-being while reducing reliance on added sugars and artificial sweeteners. Monk fruit extract (MFE), a natural, non-caloric sweetener, is gaining interest for its potential metabolic benefits, but its effects and regulatory status require further evaluation. Objective: This PRISMA-guided systematic review synthesizes findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of MFE on metabolic health, lipid profiles, inflammation, and regulatory considerations. Methods: The literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, covering studies published between 2015 and 2025. Inclusion criteria were human RCTs evaluating MFE’s metabolic effects, while animal studies, reviews, and mixed-intervention trials were excluded. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Jadad scale. Results: Five randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, demonstrating that monk fruit extract (MFE) reduces postprandial glucose levels by 10–18% and insulin responses by 12–22%. No severe adverse effects were observed. Regulatory analysis indicated that MFE is approved for use in the United States and China, while its status remains under review in the European Union. Conclusions: MFE shows potential as a functional food ingredient for metabolic health. However, long-term clinical trials and a harmonized regulatory framework must confirm its safety and efficacy within sustainable health strategies Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health (2nd Edition))
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24 pages, 3487 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive, Analytical Narrative Review of Polysaccharides from the Red Seaweed Gracilaria: Pharmaceutical Applications and Mechanistic Insights for Human Health
by Deepesh Khandwal, Sapna Patel, Abhay Kumar Pandey and Avinash Mishra
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050744 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1524
Abstract
Gracilaria species, a widely distributed genus of red macroalgae, have gathered significant attention for their diverse medical applications attributable to their bioactive sulphated polysaccharides (SPs). This review examines the global narrative of various Gracilaria SP applications in terms of their therapeutic potential and [...] Read more.
Gracilaria species, a widely distributed genus of red macroalgae, have gathered significant attention for their diverse medical applications attributable to their bioactive sulphated polysaccharides (SPs). This review examines the global narrative of various Gracilaria SP applications in terms of their therapeutic potential and mechanistic insights into the use of these SPs against a range of medical conditions, including cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and immune dysfunctions. SPs extracted from G. lemaneiformis and G. fisheri have demonstrated potent anti-tumour activities by inducing apoptosis through various mechanisms, including the upregulation of CD8+ T cells and IL-2, inhibition of EGFR/MAPK/ERK signalling pathways, and activation of the Fas/FasL pathway. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) conjugated with SPs further enhanced the targeted delivery and efficacy of these SPs against glioblastoma by the downregulation of ROS followed by the activation of p53, MAPK, and AKT pathways. The anti-inflammatory properties of SPs are evidenced by key suppressive inflammatory markers like NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in mutant rodent models. SPs from G. cornea and G. birdiae effectively reduce neutrophil migration and vascular permeability, offering potential treatments for acute inflammation and conditions such as colitis by modulating pathways involving COX-2 and NF-κB. Neuroprotective effects by SPs (from G. cornea and G. gracili) studied in 6-OHDA-induced rats, which mitigate oxidative stress and enhance neuronal cell viability, facilitate the management of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Regarding the hypoglycaemic effect, SPs from G. lemaneiformis exhibit a glucose-modulating response by improving insulin regulation, inhibiting α-amylase activity, repairing pancreatic β-cells, and modulating lipid metabolism. Moreover, immunomodulatory activities of Gracilaria-derived SPs include the stimulation of macrophages, T-cell proliferation, and cytokine production, underscoring their potential as functional food and immunotherapeutic agents. Recently, Gracilaria-derived SPs have been found to modulate gut microbiota, promote SCFA production, and enhance gut microbials, suggesting their potential as prebiotic agents (G. rubra and G. lemaneiformis). This review highlights the multifaceted medical applications of Gracilaria sulphated polysaccharides, providing detailed mechanistic insights and suggesting avenues for future clinical translation and therapeutic innovations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health (2nd Edition))
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