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Nutrients
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Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity
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Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 October 2026 | Viewed by 5822

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Girolamo Di Maio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Health Sciences, Pegaso Telematic University, 80143 Naples, Italy
Interests: browning of adipose-derived stromal cells; hormonal and bioactive molecule modulation of cell metabolism; obesity and executive function; obesity and metabolic disease
Dr. Vincenzo Monda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Economics, Law, Cybersecurity, and Sports Sciences, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, Italy
Interests: effects of nutrition and physical/sport activity on oxidative stress; role of endogenous and exogenous antioxidants; correlations between thermogenesis and eating behavior; influence of age, sex, and nutritional status; obesity and chronic inflammation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial condition increasingly recognized not merely as an excess of adipose tissue but as a chronic metabolic disease with significant public health implications. This Special Issue, "Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity", examines the emerging role of specific biomarkers in enhancing the understanding, diagnosis, and management of obesity. Biomarkers derived from blood, adipose tissue, and dietary intake provide valuable insights into the physiological and metabolic alterations associated with excessive adiposity, including chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, dysregulated lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota imbalances. The contributions in this Special Issue underscore how integrating nutritional biomarkers (such as micronutrient status, dietary patterns, and metabolomic profiles) with metabolic markers (including adipokines, cytokines, and lipid mediators) can facilitate the early detection of metabolic dysfunctions, personalize nutritional interventions, and monitor therapeutic efficacy. Advances in omics technologies and systems biology enable a more comprehensive exploration of the obesity phenotype and its metabolic heterogeneity. This integrative approach paves the way toward precision nutrition and targeted interventions that consider an individual’s metabolic profile beyond conventional weight-based assessments.

Dr. Girolamo Di Maio
Dr. Vincenzo Monda
Guest Editors

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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

  • obesity
  • biomarkers
  • adipose tissue
  • dietary intake
  • chronic inflammation
  • insulin resistance
  • micronutrient
  • dietary patterns
  • metabolomic

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 933 KB  
Article
Matched Analysis of Circulating and Adipose Tissue SIRT1 Protein Level in Human Obesity
by Luisa Salvatori, Francesca Megiorni, Giorgia Maria Baldazzi, Valentina Ventimiglia, Elena Gangitano, Mikiko Watanabe, Orietta Gandini, Eleonora Poggiogalle, Lucio Gnessi, Carla Lubrano, Daniele Gianfrilli, Andrea Maria Isidori, Antonio Angeloni and Stefania Mariani
Nutrients 2026, 18(8), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18081239 - 15 Apr 2026
Viewed by 381
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Mammalian sirtuins (SIRTs) are evolutionarily conserved proteins that are epigenetically involved in biological processes such as metabolism and longevity. SIRT1 expression is reduced in metabolic disorders and in complicated diseases such as obesity. However, whether the SIRT1 level in subcutaneous adipose [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Mammalian sirtuins (SIRTs) are evolutionarily conserved proteins that are epigenetically involved in biological processes such as metabolism and longevity. SIRT1 expression is reduced in metabolic disorders and in complicated diseases such as obesity. However, whether the SIRT1 level in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) matches with its circulating form in obesity is unknown. The aim of our study is to evaluate SIRT1 derived from SAT and plasma of the same subject in individuals with and without obesity to assess whether plasma measurements may provide clinically significant information. Methods: Eleven subjects with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and six controls without the disease (BMI < 30 kg/m2) were enrolled, and SIRT1 was measured in SAT and plasma by ELISA. Anthropometric parameters, glycemia and transaminases were also assessed. Results: Patients with obesity showed similar levels of SIRT1 in SAT and plasma (1.28 ± 0.45 and 1.9 ± 0.25 ng/mL, respectively, p = 0.243). Patients without obesity showed higher SIRT1 levels in SAT than in plasma (4.19 ± 1.33 and 1.06 ± 0.12 ng/mL, respectively, p = 0.039). An inverse correlation between SAT-derived SIRT1 and BMI was found (r = −0.632, p = 0.007). Conclusions: In this pilot study, our results show that the plasma SIRT1 levels substantially reflect those of SAT in patients with obesity. Given the metabolic role of SIRT1, further comprehensive investigations in larger longitudinal cohorts are needed to support plasma SIRT1 as an eligible diagnostic tool for stratifying metabolic risk associated with fat mass expansion in obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity)
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22 pages, 4982 KB  
Article
Structural Insights and Metabolic Profiles of Oxidized Green Coffee Extract, and Its Impact on Obesity and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice
by Jun He, Linxian Shan, Lihui Yu, Lijun Yu, Xingjiao Jiang, Yan Shen, Zezhu Du, Rongxian Yu, Cunchao Zhao, Xiaocui Du, Haizhen Wang, Ruijuan Yang and Chongye Fang
Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040638 - 15 Feb 2026
Viewed by 574
Abstract
Background: Obesity is a severe chronic disease impacting health, closely linked to intestinal microbiota. Gut microbiome significantly contributes to obesity and metabolic issues. This study aims to explore the structural characterization of two coffee extracts and their effects on gut microbiota disturbances [...] Read more.
Background: Obesity is a severe chronic disease impacting health, closely linked to intestinal microbiota. Gut microbiome significantly contributes to obesity and metabolic issues. This study aims to explore the structural characterization of two coffee extracts and their effects on gut microbiota disturbances caused by a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups—normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD supplemented with unroasted coffee extract (UC), and HFD supplemented with oxidized green coffee extract (GCE). Results: Structural characterization revealed that both extracts are polymeric phenolic compounds rich in hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. Full-target metabolomic analysis revealed significant metabolic differences between the extracts, with 499 differential metabolites identified: a total of 247 metabolites were upregulated and 252 were downregulated in GCE compared to UC. Supplementation with GCE reduced body weight gain and adipose tissue accumulation, improved dyslipidemia and insulin sensitivity, and enhanced hepatic antioxidant capacity in high-fat model mice. Gut microbial analysis showed that GCE significantly (p < 0.05) increased the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Prevotella, Butyricimonas, and Parabacteroides. Conclusions: Oxidized green coffee extract has the effect of lowering lipids and increasing intestinal beneficial bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity)
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20 pages, 2118 KB  
Article
Phenotype-Specific Mitochondrial Responses to Mediterranean Diet and Exercise in Elderly Obesity
by Paloma Carrillo-Fernández, María Ángeles Silva-Soto, Rocío Gallego-Durán, Elena Medina-Jimenez, Alberto Vilches-Pérez, Juan Francisco Mogaburo-Alba, Tania E. Saez-Lancellotti, Ana Navarro-Sanz, Nuria Prieto-Lain, Ana Isabel Gómez-Hernández, Sergio Jansen-Chaparro, Douglas Maya-Miles, Manuel Romero-Gomez, Ricardo Gómez-Huelgas and María Rosa Bernal-Lopez
Nutrients 2026, 18(3), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18030475 - 1 Feb 2026
Viewed by 769
Abstract
Background/Objectives: While excessive body fat is commonly linked to metabolic disorders (metabolically unhealthy obesity, MUO), a subset of individuals remain metabolic healthy despite obesity (metabolically healthy obesity, MHO). This work aims to determine how these phenotypes influence responses to lifestyle modification (LSM) in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: While excessive body fat is commonly linked to metabolic disorders (metabolically unhealthy obesity, MUO), a subset of individuals remain metabolic healthy despite obesity (metabolically healthy obesity, MHO). This work aims to determine how these phenotypes influence responses to lifestyle modification (LSM) in older adults. Methods: A 12-month lifestyle modification (LSM) intervention based on the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and regular physical activity (PA) was conducted in 43 older adults (70% women) classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as MHO (22 subjects) or MUO (21 subjects). Clinical, dietary, and PA parameters were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed for mitochondrial fusion (OPA1, MFN2), mitophagy (PINK1), biogenesis (TFAM), and the respiratory chain (COX IV) using Western blot and RT-qPCR techniques. Results: At baseline, MUO showed significant lower OPA1-L, MFN2, and TFAM along with MFN2 degradation products and PINK1 accumulation. After 12 months of LSM, MUO participants exhibited greater metabolic profile improvements, such as significantly reduced MFN2 degradation products and higher COX IV. Changes in mitochondrial proteins were associated with nutrient intake and PA and clinical parameters with phenotype-specific patterns. In MUO, protein and cholesterol intake improved MFN2 fusion (rho = 0.446, p = 0.043; rho = 0.581, p = 0.006), while carbohydrates were negatively associated with OPA1 in MHO (rho = −0.596, p = 0.025). PA was positively related to fusion proteins in both phenotypes. Clinically, significant improvements in BMI, waist circumference, and HDL were found in MUO but not in MHO. Conclusions: Older adults with obesity show phenotype-specific mitochondrial impairments that shape distinct responses to LSM, highlighting the relevance of tailoring LSM interventions by metabolic phenotype. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity)
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17 pages, 516 KB  
Article
Effects of a Bioactive Vegetable-Enriched Diet on Autotaxin and Liver Fibrosis in MASLD with Evidence of Sex-Specific Responses: A Pilot Study
by Nicole Cerabino, Caterina Bonfiglio, Leonilde Bonfrate, Pasqua Letizia Pesole, Dolores Stabile, Endrit Shahini, Martina Di Chito, Giovanni De Pergola and Gianluigi Giannelli
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3676; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233676 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 900
Abstract
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a frequent manifestation of obesity and other metabolic diseases. Autotaxin (ATX), an enzyme involved in the generation of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), has recently emerged as a potential biomarker of metabolic inflammation and liver disease [...] Read more.
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a frequent manifestation of obesity and other metabolic diseases. Autotaxin (ATX), an enzyme involved in the generation of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), has recently emerged as a potential biomarker of metabolic inflammation and liver disease progression. Vegetable-based dietary interventions have been shown to reduce liver steatosis, but evidence of the impact of this dietary approach on ATX levels remains limited. Objectives: To evaluate the short-term effects of a bioactive vegetable-enriched diet from the Brassicaceae and Asteraceae families on serum ATX levels and liver-related parameters in individuals with obesity and MASLD, with a specific focus on sex differences. Methods: In this two-month pilot study, 44 obese adults (BMI > 30 kg/m2) underwent clinical and instrumental assessments at baseline (T0) and after the dietary intervention (T1). Results: After the intervention, serum ATX levels significantly decreased (from 206.3 ± 52.8 to 191.7 ± 45.7 ng/mL, p < 0.001), and there were improvements in metabolic parameters (BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fat mass, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol) and liver indices (CAP, ALT, AST, γGT). The multivariate GEE model confirmed a significant reduction in ATX, independent of age, sex, FFM, LPA, LSM, Hemoglobin A1c, and PAI-1 (β = −9.87, p < 0.001). When stratified by sex, women exhibited a more pronounced reduction in ATX levels (β = −12.24; p = 0.005) compared to men (β = −9.43; p = 0.014). Conclusions: A short-term, vegetable-enriched dietary intervention can significantly reduce serum ATX levels and improve metabolic and liver-related parameters in individuals with MASLD. Sex-specific analysis reveals a greater ATX-lowering effect in women, suggesting potential sex-based differences in ATX metabolism or dietary responsiveness. These findings suggest that ATX may serve as a modifiable biomarker responsive to nutritional intervention and a potential therapeutic target in metabolic liver disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity)
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10 pages, 662 KB  
Article
Associations Between Circulating Spexin, Obesity, and Insulin Resistance in Korean Children and Adolescents
by Shin-Hee Kim and Yoon Hong Chun
Nutrients 2025, 17(19), 3177; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193177 - 8 Oct 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1117
Abstract
Background: Spexin is a neuropeptide involved in various physiological functions, including energy metabolism, appetite regulation, and weight loss. This study aimed to identify correlations between circulating spexin levels, obesity, and insulin resistance (IR) in Korean children and adolescents. Methods: We included 128 Korean [...] Read more.
Background: Spexin is a neuropeptide involved in various physiological functions, including energy metabolism, appetite regulation, and weight loss. This study aimed to identify correlations between circulating spexin levels, obesity, and insulin resistance (IR) in Korean children and adolescents. Methods: We included 128 Korean children and adolescents in the study. Among them, 69 individuals (53.9%) were classified as obese, 43 (33.6%) were considered overweight, and 16 (12.5%) had a normal weight. We recorded participants’ anthropometric parameters, fasting biochemical parameters, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and assessed their correlations with plasma spexin levels. Results: Plasma spexin levels were significantly lower in obese subjects than in controls (mean, 163.1 vs. 198.4 pg/mL; p = 0.01). Subjects with IR had lower spexin levels than those without IR (mean, 145.3 vs. 185.1 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Spexin levels were negatively correlated with the BMI SDS (r = −0.30; p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (r = −0.33; p < 0.001), fasting insulin (r = −0.41; p < 0.001), HOMA-IR value (r = −0.41; p < 0.001), triglyceride (TG) level (r = −0.38; p < 0.001), and plasma leptin level (r = −0.26; p = 0.004). In multivariate analysis, HOMA-IR and TG levels were independently associated with plasma spexin levels (p < 0.001 for both). Mediation analyses suggest a potential bidirectional relationship between obesity-related reductions in circulating spexin and insulin resistance. Conclusions: Decreased circulating spexin levels were associated with obesity and IR among Korean children and adolescents. Our findings suggest a link between circulating spexin, obesity, and IR in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity)
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Review

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26 pages, 871 KB  
Review
Physiological Regulation of Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity: Implications for Precision Nutrition
by Girolamo Di Maio, Maria Giovanna Tafuri, Maria Casillo, Antonietta Messina, Salvatore Allocca, Ines Villano, Fiorenzo Moscatelli, Antonietta Monda, Marco La Marra and Vincenzo Monda
Nutrients 2026, 18(6), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18061014 - 23 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1462
Abstract
Obesity represents a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by substantial interindividual variation in inflammatory status, insulin sensitivity, and cardiometabolic risk. Traditional anthropometric measures fail to capture this metabolic diversity, limiting risk stratification and personalized intervention strategies. This review critically examines nutritional and metabolic biomarkers [...] Read more.
Obesity represents a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by substantial interindividual variation in inflammatory status, insulin sensitivity, and cardiometabolic risk. Traditional anthropometric measures fail to capture this metabolic diversity, limiting risk stratification and personalized intervention strategies. This review critically examines nutritional and metabolic biomarkers that reflect the physiological dysregulation underlying obesity, including adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, TNF-α), insulin resistance indices (HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, HbA1c), and lipid metabolism indicators (LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and liver enzymes such as ALT and GGT). Among these, elevated CRP, reduced adiponectin, and increased HOMA-IR have demonstrated the strongest clinical utility for early metabolic risk identification. We further evaluate emerging biomarkers—including circulating microRNAs, gut microbiota-derived metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, TMAO, lipopolysaccharides), and bile acid profiles—which offer additional mechanistic insight into diet–microbiome–host interactions. We systematically assess the mechanistic basis, clinical relevance, and nutritional modulation of each biomarker class, emphasizing how dietary composition—particularly fatty acid quality, fiber intake, and overall dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet—influences biomarker profiles and metabolic outcomes. Furthermore, we explore how biomarker-based phenotyping enables precision nutrition approaches by identifying individuals most likely to benefit from specific dietary interventions. Integration of multi-biomarker panels with clinical and genetic data holds promise for advancing from population-based dietary guidelines toward individualized nutrition strategies that optimize metabolic health and prevent obesity-related complications. Future research should prioritize validating biomarker-guided intervention frameworks, establishing standardized thresholds across diverse populations, and developing clinically implementable tools for personalized nutritional medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional and Metabolic Biomarkers in Obesity)
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