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Bone-Health-Promoting Bioactive Nutrition
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Bone-Health-Promoting Bioactive Nutrition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 November 2025 | Viewed by 5120

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Antonia Sophocleous

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
Interests: osteoarthritis; cartilage damage; skeletal remodelling; bone metabolism; microbiome; probiotics; prebiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Foods that offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition, known as bioactive or functional foods, have been thoroughly studied since the beginning of the 20th century. Minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and phytochemicals boost health, support the immune system and reduce inflammation.

The musculoskeletal system, essential for body support, movement, internal organ protection, blood cell production and mineral storage, could not have remained unaffected by bioactive foods. In recent years, research has increasingly highlighted the potential benefits of functional nutrition in promoting musculoskeletal wellness. Evidence thus far supports the notion that plant- and animal-derived bioactive compounds are promising candidates for improving bone health. However, clinically meaningful long-term effects and the safety of functional compounds in terms of skeletal vitality remain to be determined. Any new research in these areas could shed light on novel functional food ingredients and their role in enhancing bone wellness.

This Special Issue of Nutrients, entitled “Bone-Health-Promoting Bioactive Nutrition”, welcomes original pre-clinical and clinical research studies and review articles examining the impact of functional foods and food-based bioactive compounds on bone health. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses summarizing the current evidence on the interplay between health-enhancing nutrition and skeletal wellness are also welcome.

Dr. Antonia Sophocleous
Guest Editor

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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

  • bone health
  • musculoskeletal system
  • osteoarthritis
  • osteoporosis
  • skeletal remodelling
  • bone metabolism
  • probiotics
  • functional food
  • bioactive nutrition
  • minerals
  • vitamins
  • antioxidants
  • phytochemicals
  • nutraceuticals
  • nutritionally active food

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1920 KB  
Article
Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis Larvae Extract Attenuates Inflammatory Osteoclast Differentiation and Bone Loss
by Hyun Yang, Dong Ryun Gu, Hye Jin Yang, Wei Li, Younghoon Go, Ra-Yeong Choi, In-Woo Kim and Hyunil Ha
Nutrients 2025, 17(20), 3273; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17203273 - 17 Oct 2025
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (PB), an edible insect, exhibit diverse bioactivities, but their effects on inflammatory bone loss remain unclear. We investigated whether a 70% ethanol extract of PB larvae (PBE) suppresses osteoclast differentiation and bone loss under inflammatory conditions. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (PB), an edible insect, exhibit diverse bioactivities, but their effects on inflammatory bone loss remain unclear. We investigated whether a 70% ethanol extract of PB larvae (PBE) suppresses osteoclast differentiation and bone loss under inflammatory conditions. Methods: Osteoclast differentiation was assessed in co-cultures of mouse bone marrow cells and osteocytic cells stimulated with interleukin-1 (IL-1). Direct effects on osteoclast precursors were tested in bone marrow–derived macrophages exposed to receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Skeletal effects were evaluated in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone loss. Results: PBE inhibited IL-1–induced osteoclast differentiation in co-culture, reduced osteocytic RANKL expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, and dampened early IL-1 signaling. In osteoclast precursors, PBE directly suppressed osteoclastogenesis driven by RANKL or TNF-α. In vivo, PBE attenuated LPS-induced bone loss and blunted the associated increases in bone RANKL and PGE2. Conclusions: PBE limits inflammatory osteoclastogenesis by downregulating PGE2 and RANKL production in osteoclast-supporting cells and directly inhibiting osteoclast precursor differentiation, thereby attenuating LPS-induced bone loss. These findings identify PBE as a food-derived candidate for managing inflammation-associated bone loss and support further preclinical and nutritional intervention studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone-Health-Promoting Bioactive Nutrition)
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17 pages, 1051 KB  
Article
Effects of Freeze-Dried Sake Lees and Rice Koji Extract on Osteoporosis in a Postmenopausal Mouse Model
by Jorge Sáez-Chandía, Stephanny Castillo-Quispe, Keiichiro Okamoto, Atsushi Kurahashi, Kazuya Kodaira, Kotaro Aihara, Kiyoko Suzuki-Barrera, Masaru Kaku, Yoshikazu Mikami, Miho Terunuma, Kensuke Yamamura, Takafumi Hayashi, Makio Saeki and Yoshito Kakihara
Nutrients 2025, 17(19), 3077; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193077 - 27 Sep 2025
Viewed by 706
Abstract
Background/Objectives: With the aging of the population, the number of patients with osteoporosis is increasing worldwide. Osteoporosis results from an imbalance in bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This study investigated the effects of sake lees and rice koji, traditional Japanese rice-fermented products, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: With the aging of the population, the number of patients with osteoporosis is increasing worldwide. Osteoporosis results from an imbalance in bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This study investigated the effects of sake lees and rice koji, traditional Japanese rice-fermented products, on bone metabolism. Methods: Both sake lees extract and rice koji extract increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, extracellular collagen accumulation, and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, the intracellular protein levels of Hsp47 and Sec23IP, which are required for collagen maturation and secretion, respectively, were increased during the differentiation. On the other hand, both extracts significantly inhibited osteoclastic differentiation. Furthermore, the effects of freeze-dried sake lees or rice koji extract on osteoporotic bones were examined using twelve-week-old female C3H/HeJ ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Results: The groups of mice fed 20% or 40% freeze-dried sake lees showed significant suppression of the loss in bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and trabecular volume (Tb.V) compared with those fed a normal diet as well as the 40% freeze-dried sake lees-fed group reduced in the loss of trabecular thickness (Tb.Th). Similarly, the rice koji extract-treated mice showed significant inhibition of the loss in BV/TV, Tb.V, and even trabecular number (Tb.N.). Folic acid and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which have been reported to be present in sake lees, promoted extracellular collagen production by osteoblasts. Conclusions: In OVX mice, the intake of freeze-dried sake lees or rice koji extract was associated with the attenuation of trabecular bone loss, suggesting potential beneficial effects on bone metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone-Health-Promoting Bioactive Nutrition)
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16 pages, 1702 KB  
Article
Does Salt Form Matter? A Pilot Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Pharmacokinetic Comparison of Crystalline and Regular Glucosamine Sulfate in Healthy Volunteers
by Chuck Chang, Afoke Ibi, Yiming Zhang, Min Du, Yoon Seok Roh, Robert O’Brien and Julia Solnier
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2491; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152491 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1289
Abstract
Background: Crystalline glucosamine sulfate (cGS) claims to be a stabilized form of glucosamine sulfate with a defined crystalline structure intended to enhance chemical stability. It is proposed to offer pharmacokinetic advantages over regular glucosamine sulfate (rGS) which is stabilized with potassium or [...] Read more.
Background: Crystalline glucosamine sulfate (cGS) claims to be a stabilized form of glucosamine sulfate with a defined crystalline structure intended to enhance chemical stability. It is proposed to offer pharmacokinetic advantages over regular glucosamine sulfate (rGS) which is stabilized with potassium or sodium chloride. However, comparative human bioavailability data are limited. Since both forms dissociate in gastric fluid into constituent ions, the impact of cGS formulation on absorption remains uncertain. This pilot study aimed to compare the bioavailability of cGS and rGS using a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Methods: Ten healthy adults received a single 1500 mg oral dose of either cGS or rGS with a 7-day washout between interventions. Capillary blood samples were collected over 24 h. Glucosamine and its metabolite concentrations were quantified by Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS), and pharmacokinetic parameters—including maximum concentration (Cmax), time to reach Cmax (Tmax), and area under the curve (AUC)—were calculated. Results: Mean AUC0–24, Cmax, Tmax, and T½ values for glucosamine and glucosamine-6-sulfate (GlcN-6-S) were comparable between cGS and rGS. Although the AUC0–24 for glucosamine was modestly higher with rGS (18,300 ng·h/mL) than with cGS (12,900 ng·h/mL), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.136). GlcN-6-S exposure was also similar between formulations (rGS: 50,700 ng·h/mL; cGS: 50,600 ng·h/mL), with a geometric mean ratio of 1.39, a delayed Tmax (6–8 h) and longer half-life, consistent with its role as a downstream metabolite. N-acetylglucosamine levels remained stable, indicating potential homeostatic regulation. Conclusions: This pilot study found no significant pharmacokinetic advantage of cGS over rGS. These preliminary findings challenge claims of cGS’ pharmacokinetic superiority, although the small sample size limits definitive conclusions. Larger, adequately powered studies are needed to confirm these results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone-Health-Promoting Bioactive Nutrition)
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Review

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15 pages, 1049 KB  
Review
Influence of Wine on Bone Mineral Density
by Nathália Dantas Duarte, Paula Buzo Frigério, Felipe de Souza Duarte, Roberta Okamoto, Daniela Vieira Buchaim, Geraldo Marco Rosa Junior, Cleuber Rodrigo de Souza Bueno, Carlos Henrique Bertoni Reis, Rogerio Leone Buchaim and João Paulo Mardegan Issa
Nutrients 2025, 17(12), 1981; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17121981 - 11 Jun 2025
Viewed by 2406
Abstract
Background: Considering the increasing interest in strategies to prevent osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions, it is relevant to critically assess the existing evidence on the potential benefits of phenolic compounds in wine on bone metabolism. Objectives: This integrative review aims to [...] Read more.
Background: Considering the increasing interest in strategies to prevent osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions, it is relevant to critically assess the existing evidence on the potential benefits of phenolic compounds in wine on bone metabolism. Objectives: This integrative review aims to evaluate clinical and animal studies investigating the influence of wine consumption on bone mineral density (BMD). Methods: The search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases until April 2025. The key question was: “Does wine consumption influence BMD?”. Results: After searching the identified databases, 108 studies were screened, and 7 were included in the final analysis. Conclusions: This review suggests a possible association between light to moderate wine consumption and favorable effects on BMD, particularly in the spine and femoral neck. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the predominance of observational studies. Future RCTs and systematic reviews must clarify wine’s potential role in bone health and explore non-alcoholic or low-alcohol wine alternatives with similar polyphenol content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bone-Health-Promoting Bioactive Nutrition)
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