Dietary Patterns and Population Health

Dear Colleagues,

The EAT-Lancet Commission has emphasized the importance of transforming global food systems in order to achieve a balance between human health and environmental sustainability. In this sense, there is growing recognition that adherence to dietary patterns not only impacts individual health but also plays a critical role at population and global levels. For this reason, there is an increasing interest in dietary approaches that go beyond personal well-being and also focus on environmental sustainability and ecological aspects. Plant-based dietary patterns, including diets such as the Mediterranean, vegetarian, and pro-vegetarian patterns (which are more flexible and accessible versions of vegetarian diets), as well as the EAT-Lancet Commission proposal, have emerged as prominent examples of this shift. However, it is necessary to further explore the association of these dietary patterns with both human and planetary health.

In addition to their environmental benefits, diet plays a significant role in human exposure to environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The type and source of food consumed can influence the level of exposure to these harmful substances, with certain dietary patterns potentially reducing or modifying their impact. In particular, plant-based dietary patterns may alter exposure to these pollutants by reducing the intake of contaminants commonly found in animal-derived foods or processed products. However, more research is needed to understand how these diets affect pollutant bioaccumulation and whether they mitigate or exacerbate the health effects of environmental contaminants.

The aim of this Special Issue is to shed light on emerging dietary trends, particularly those that incorporate environmental considerations, and to increase our understanding of how these patterns influence both human and planetary health. We are particularly interested in studies that assess the environmental impact of dietary patterns using ecological footprints or other markers, as well as those that explore the effects on health outcomes. Furthermore, we seek contributions that explore the role of diet in exposure to environmental contaminants and investigate how plant-based dietary patterns may modify both exposure levels and the health effects of these pollutants. Submissions can include original research articles, clinical studies, or review articles that address these key topics. Your contributions will play a crucial role in advancing knowledge in this field by highlighting the intersection of dietary practices, health, environmental exposure, and global sustainability. Thank you for considering this Special Issue as a platform to share your research on the transformative potential of dietary patterns.

Dr. Vicente Mustieles
Dr. Alejandro Oncina-Cánovas
Dr. Luis Cabañas-Alite
Dr. Iris Comino-Comino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

• dietary patterns
• plant-based diets
• sustainable diets
• mediterranean diet
• vegetarian diets
• pro-vegetarian
• EAT-lancet commission
• environmental impact
• food waste
• socioeconomic determinants of diet
• environmental pollutants