Dietary Fiber and Chronic Inflammation—Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Potential
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: dietary nutrition and chronic disease prevention; cereal nutrition and health; new food processing technology and functional food development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Chronic inflammation is a fundamental driver of numerous non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and neurodegenerative disorders. Dietary fiber, long recognized for its role in digestive health, is now emerging as a critical modulator of systemic inflammation through complex interactions with the gut microbiota and host immunity. This Special Issue invites original research, reviews, and perspectives exploring the multifaceted relationship between dietary fiber intake and chronic inflammation. We seek contributions that elucidate the following:
- Mechanistic Insights: How do specific fibers (e.g., beta-glucans, resistant starch, inulin, pectins) influence gut microbial composition and function (e.g., SCFA production), gut barrier integrity, and downstream immune signaling pathways?
- Biomarkers and Modulation: What are the sensitive and specific biomarkers (e.g., inflammatory cytokines, acute-phase proteins, microbial metabolites) reflecting the anti-inflammatory effects of fiber? How do the dose, type, and source of fiber impact these biomarkers in different populations?
- Clinical Translation: What is the evidence from human intervention trials (RCTs, mechanistic studies) supporting the efficacy of dietary fiber in preventing or ameliorating inflammation-driven chronic diseases? How do factors like baseline microbiota, genetics, and diet interact?
- Personalized Nutrition: Can we define fiber requirements or specific fiber recommendations tailored to individual gut microbiota profiles or inflammatory status for optimal prevention/therapy?
- Public Health and Food Innovation: What are the implications for dietary guidelines and the development of novel fiber-enriched functional foods or supplements targeting inflammation?
We encourage submissions utilizing diverse methodologies, from in vitro and animal models to advanced human studies (omics, metabolomics, immune profiling), epidemiological investigations, and interventional trials.
Prof. Dr. Lihua Song
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- dietary fiber
- chronic inflammation
- gut microbiome / gut microbiota
- metabolites
- inflammatory biomarkers
- prebiotics
- inflammatory diseases
- anti-inflammation signaling pathway
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