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The Impact of Dietary Trends on Physiological Processes in Human Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2025) | Viewed by 5261

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Robert Coker

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Montana Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
Interests: insulin resistance; diabetes; athletic performance; metabolism; human physiology; metabolic diseases; nutrition; hypertension; strength & conditioning; exercise physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adequate nutrient intake is a vital requirement for humans. While unprecedented advancements in agricultural science and engineering have dramatically improved nutrient availability, the impact on human health has not been entirely positive. Processed foods, while being relatively inexpensive, quick to prepare, and effective in reducing the incidence of hunger, fall short when it comes to nutrient quality. For example, the ratio of polyunsaturated fats to saturated fats has changed significantly and may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Excessive simple carbohydrates and low protein quality also represent common characteristics of processed foods and may negatively affect body composition. In contrast, foods containing non-processed ingredients are often lower in sugar, saturated fats, and excessive additives. The fundamental influence of processed versus non-processed foods on physiological processes that affect human health is the major focus of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Robert Coker
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • dietary intake
  • dietary quality
  • processed foods
  • non-processed foods
  • anti-inflammatories
  • human health
  • body composition
  • physiological processes

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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17 pages, 1463 KB  
Article
Dietary Fat Intake and Indices of Blood Profiles in High-Performance Athletes: An Exploratory Study Focusing on Platelet Variables
by Marius Baranauskas, Ingrida Kupčiūnaitė, Jurgita Lieponienė and Rimantas Stukas
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3418; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213418 - 30 Oct 2025
Viewed by 453
Abstract
Background/Objectives: There is a sudden and noticeably increasing focus on naturally found antiplatelet inhibitors that humans can use habitually. Given that athletes receive annual training with periods of recovery that are not always suitably adapted to the workload, this study [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: There is a sudden and noticeably increasing focus on naturally found antiplatelet inhibitors that humans can use habitually. Given that athletes receive annual training with periods of recovery that are not always suitably adapted to the workload, this study aimed to explore the association between dietary fat intakes and the indices of blood profiles, concentrating on platelet variables in a sample of high-performance athletes. Methods: The sample encompassed 19.8 ± 2.2-year-old Lithuanian high-performance athletes (n = 82). The assessment of the nutritional profile of study participants was performed using a 3-day food record approach. In laboratory settings, the hematology profile of athletes was assessed via the Nihon Khoden automated hematology analyzer. Results: The recorded mean consumption of energy, carbohydrates, protein, and fat in elite athletes was 49 kcal/kg/day, 5.4 g/kg/day, 1.6 g/kg/day, and 40.3% of energy intake (EI), respectively. The study highlighted the excessive consumption of saturated fatty acids (FA) (13.4–14.3% of EI) and dietary cholesterol (698–982 mg/day). Also, considering that the ideal human omega-6 to omega-3 FA ratio is commonly deemed to be between 1:1 and 4:1, an athlete’s ‘Western diet’ was heavily skewed with a ratio fluctuating from 18.9:1 to 19:4 in favor of omega-6 FA. Furthermore, the study found that the outcomes related to slightly higher levels of blood platelet counts and plateletcrit, however, being within normal limits, were associated with a higher intake of omega-6 FA (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 9.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2; 9.9, p = 0.029). A higher platelet-to-hemoglobin ratio as a novel indirect blood-based biomarker pronouncing the potential inflammatory processes in the body revealed the reverse relationship of higher intake levels of dietary omega-3 FA (AOR 6.7, 95% CI 1.3; 12.2, p = 0.029), omega-6 FA (AOR 6.2, 95% CI 2.7; 11.5, p = 0.009), and saturated FA (AOR 8.5, 95% CI 1.5; 9.1, p = 0.020) among elite athletes. Conclusions: The prospect of personalized nutrition targeted at the professional athletes’ segment may provide an innovative opportunity to increase athletes’ capacity to manage the platelet function via diet while stressing the importance of further empirical experimental research in this dynamic and vital biomedical field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Dietary Trends on Physiological Processes in Human Health)
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16 pages, 877 KB  
Article
Evaluating the Therapeutic Potential of Exercise in Hypoxia and Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet in Managing Hypertension in Elderly Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Novel Intervention Approach
by Raquel Kindlovits, Ana Catarina Sousa, João Luís Viana, Jaime Milheiro, Bruno M. P. M. Oliveira, Franklim Marques, Alejandro Santos and Vitor Hugo Teixeira
Nutrients 2025, 17(3), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030522 - 30 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2625
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition marked by hyperglycemia, which can affect metabolic, vascular, and hematological parameters. A low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet has been shown to improve glycemic control and blood pressure regulation. Exercise in hypoxia (EH) enhances insulin [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition marked by hyperglycemia, which can affect metabolic, vascular, and hematological parameters. A low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet has been shown to improve glycemic control and blood pressure regulation. Exercise in hypoxia (EH) enhances insulin sensitivity, erythropoiesis, and angiogenesis. The combination of LCHF and EH may offer a promising strategy for managing T2DM and hypertension (HTN), although evidence remains limited. This study aimed to assess the effects of an eight-week normobaric EH intervention at 3000 m simulated altitude combined with an LCHF diet on hematological and lipid profiles, inflammation, and blood pressure in older patients with T2DM and HTN. Methods: Forty-two diabetic patients with HTN were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) control group (control diet + exercise in normoxia), (2) EH group (control diet + EH), and (3) intervention group (EH+LCHF) Baseline and eight-week measurements included systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure (SBP, DBP, MAP), hematological and lipid profiles, and inflammation biomarkers. Results: Blood pressure decreased after the intervention (p < 0.001), with no significant differences between groups (SBP: p = 0.151; DBP: p = 0.124; MAP: p = 0.18). No differences were observed in lipid profile or C-reactive protein levels (p > 0.05). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) increased in the EH group (p = 0.027), while it decreased in the EH+LCHF group (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Adding hypoxia or restricting carbohydrates did not provide additional benefits on blood pressure in T2DM patients with HTN. Further elucidation of the mechanisms underlying hematological adaptations is imperative. Trial registration number: NCT05094505. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Dietary Trends on Physiological Processes in Human Health)
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11 pages, 2477 KB  
Brief Report
High Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods Is Associated with Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Differences in Women: A Pilot Study
by Alessandra Escorcio Rodrigues, Ariana Ester Fernandes, Alexis Germán Murillo Carrasco, Felipe Mateus Pellenz, Paula Waki Lopes da Rosa, Aline Maria da Silva Hourneaux de Moura, Fernanda Galvão de Oliveira Santin, Cintia Cercato, Maria Edna de Melo and Marcio C. Mancini
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3465; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213465 - 3 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1496
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The global increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) parallels the rise in obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases. Although several large-scale studies associate UPF intake with adverse health outcomes, the biological mechanisms remain unclear. Epigenetic alterations, such as changes in DNA [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The global increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) parallels the rise in obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases. Although several large-scale studies associate UPF intake with adverse health outcomes, the biological mechanisms remain unclear. Epigenetic alterations, such as changes in DNA methylation, may represent a potential pathway by which diet influences metabolic health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether higher UPF consumption is associated with genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study with exploratory epigenetic analysis. We selected 30 women, who were divided into tertiles based on their UPF consumption (expressed as a percentage of total energy intake) according to the NOVA food classification system. Dietary intake was assessed using a three-day food record. Anthropometric data, body composition and laboratory parameters were evaluated. The analysis of DNA methylation was performed utilizing DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes of participants in the first and third tertiles of UPF consumption. Genome-wide methylation patterns were performed using next-generation sequencing. Results: Participants had a median (IQR) age of 31 years (26.0–36.5) and a BMI of 24.7 (23.6–35.8) kg/m2. For the epigenetic analyses, 15 women were included. Of the 30 women initially evaluated, 20 were included as they belonged to the first and third tertile of UPF consumption. Of these, five were excluded due to a low number of reads obtained by NGS. A total of 80 differentially methylated regions were identified between groups, most of which were hypomethylated in the high-UPF-intake group. Conclusions: High UPF consumption was associated with altered DNA methylation patterns, suggesting a potential epigenetic mechanism underlying the negative health effects of UPFs. This pilot study provides a model for future research with larger samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Dietary Trends on Physiological Processes in Human Health)
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