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Obesity, Inflammation and Diet: The Link Between What We Eat...
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Obesity, Inflammation and Diet: The Link Between What We Eat and Chronic Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 December 2025) | Viewed by 5040

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Marwan El Ghoch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for the Study of Metabolism, Body Composition and Lifestyle, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: obesity; obesity-related diseases; sarcopenic obesity; metabolism; energy expenditure; body composition; physical activity; lifestyle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by an excessive accumulation of fat in the adipose tissue, which seems to be strongly associated with an increase in the incidence of several serious medical consequences, namely those known as obesity-related comorbidities, such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, cancer, and others. In fact, the adipose tissue is no longer considered inert and only devoted to a storage function; emerging findings recognize it almost as an active organ involved in the regulation of many physiological but also pathological processes, such as inflammation. This appears to be through the secretion of several adipokines, as well as pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, obesity is an underlying condition for a low-grade inflammatory status, strongly implicated in the physiopathology of the abovementioned obesity-related chronic diseases. Diets or certain dietary patterns unquestionably play an important role in the improvement/deterioration of obesity, inflammation, and obesity-related diseases, as healthy diets and certain nutrients are considered beneficial; however, the impact of some dietary patterns and nutrients is still considered controversial.

Prof. Dr. Marwan El Ghoch
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • obesity
  • low-grade inflammation
  • VAT
  • diabetes
  • hypertesnion
  • nutrition
  • chronic diseases
  • Mediterranean diet
  • VLCKD
  • DASH diet
  • antioxidants
  • polyphenols
  • EVOO
  • omega 3 and 6
  • microbiota

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1701 KB  
Article
Almond Consumption Improves Inflammatory Profiles Independent of Weight Change: A 6-Week Randomized Controlled Trial in Adults with Obesity
by Ayodeji Adepoju, Elaheh Rabbani, Philip Brickey, Victoria Vieira-Potter and Jaapna Dhillon
Nutrients 2026, 18(5), 875; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18050875 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 2398
Abstract
Background: Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade systemic inflammation that contributes to metabolic dysfunction. Diet is a modifiable factor that can help reduce this inflammation. Nuts such as almonds are rich in unsaturated fats, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory micronutrients, which may work [...] Read more.
Background: Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade systemic inflammation that contributes to metabolic dysfunction. Diet is a modifiable factor that can help reduce this inflammation. Nuts such as almonds are rich in unsaturated fats, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory micronutrients, which may work synergistically to attenuate obesity-related inflammation. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate whether daily almond consumption improves systemic inflammatory and immune markers in adults with obesity. Methods: In this randomized controlled parallel-arm trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05530499), 69 adults (age 30–45 years) with obesity (BMI 30–45 kg/m2) were assigned to consume either 57 g/day of almonds (n = 38) or an isocaloric snack (cookie; n = 31) for six weeks. Fasting serum inflammatory cytokines, innate immune cell counts, body weight, serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and alpha-tocopherol were measured at baseline and week six. Dietary intake, compliance, palatability, acceptance, and appetite ratings were also assessed. Primary outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed models and baseline-adjusted linear models. Results: Subjective compliance was high in both groups, with greater acceptance of almonds (p < 0.05); however, serum alpha-tocopherol did not change. Almond consumption significantly decreased serum IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ over 6 weeks compared with the cookie group (p < 0.05). No significant group differences were observed for innate immune cell counts, body weight, appetite ratings, blood pressure, or serum fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (C), LDL-C, and triglycerides over six weeks. The almond group also increased intakes of monounsaturated fat, fiber, alpha-tocopherol, magnesium, zinc, and manganese, and improved diet quality indices relative to the cookie group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Daily almond consumption for six weeks improved inflammatory cytokine profiles in adults with obesity, without changes in body weight under free-living conditions. These findings support recommending almonds as part of healthy dietary patterns to help attenuate obesity-related inflammation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity, Inflammation and Diet: The Link Between What We Eat and Chronic Diseases)
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15 pages, 556 KB  
Article
Association Between Reduced Daily Protein Intake and Sarcopenic Obesity in Men Living with HIV: A New Screening Tool
by Carla Greco, Leila Itani, Jovana Milic, Michela Belli, Silvia Gabriele, Mariagrazia Conti, Filippo Valoriani, Giovanni Guaraldi, Vincenzo Rochira and Marwan El Ghoch
Nutrients 2025, 17(19), 3042; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193042 - 24 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Background and Aim: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a phenotype characterized by increased body fat combined with reduced muscle mass and strength. SO is prevalent among people living with HIV, especially in men (MLWH); however, the link between this phenotype and diet is still [...] Read more.
Background and Aim: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a phenotype characterized by increased body fat combined with reduced muscle mass and strength. SO is prevalent among people living with HIV, especially in men (MLWH); however, the link between this phenotype and diet is still unclear in this population. For this reason, in this study, we aim to examine potential associations between self-reported macronutrient intake and SO in MLWH, and, eventually, to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a simple nutritional marker for screening SO. Methods: A total of 216 MLWH were selected from a large cohort who completed a total body composition measurement by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), muscle strength assessment by handgrip test, and nutritional recording by 24 h recall interview. The sample was categorized into SO (n = 45), non-SO (NSO) (n = 33), and non-sarcopenic non-obesity (NSNO) (n = 138). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the associations between different macronutrients and SO after adjusting for confounders. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify discriminating cut-off points of the determined macronutrient intake to screen for SO. Results: The MLWH with SO while compared to NSO and NSNO, were of an older age and had a higher BMI, but with a lower total caloric and protein intake. However, adjusted logistic regression showed that only protein intake (g/kg/day) (OR = 0.017; 95%CI: 0.003–0.094, p < 0.05) and age (OR = 1.051; 95%CI: 1.011–1.093, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with SO. The age-adjusted ROC analysis identified the 0.98 g/kg/day of protein intake (AUC = 0.8149; p < 0.0001; sensitivity = 71%; specificity = 70%) as a cut-off point to screen for SO in the MLWH. Conclusions: We identified a new cut-off point of daily protein intake able to screen for SO in MLWH, and its use can be implemented in clinical settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity, Inflammation and Diet: The Link Between What We Eat and Chronic Diseases)
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14 pages, 567 KB  
Systematic Review
The Influence of Ultra-Processed Foods on Inflammation and Metabolic Health in Pediatric Obesity: A Systematic Review with a Narrative Synthesis
by Debora Porri, Malgorzata Wasniewska, Alessandra Li Pomi, Elisa La Rosa, Giovanni Luppino, Aurora Lanzafame, Cecilia Lugarà, Roberto Coco, Francesca Franchina, Tiziana Abbate, Carla Fazio, Valentina La Malfa, Letteria Anna Morabito, Giorgia Pepe, Mariella Valenzise, Maria Francesca Messina, Domenico Corica and Tommaso Aversa
Nutrients 2026, 18(8), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18081186 - 9 Apr 2026
Viewed by 495
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has been accompanied by an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), characterized by high energy density and low nutritional quality. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns rich in UPF may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation and [...] Read more.
The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has been accompanied by an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), characterized by high energy density and low nutritional quality. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns rich in UPF may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation and early metabolic dysfunction in children and adolescents. Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between UPF consumption and markers of inflammation and metabolic health in pediatric populations. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Observational and interventional studies evaluating UPF intake or diet-related inflammatory potential in children and adolescents (≤18 years) were included. Outcomes of interest included inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., C-reactive protein, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α) and metabolic parameters (e.g., insulin resistance, lipid profile, glucose metabolism). Results: A limited number of studies have directly assessed UPF consumption using the NOVA classification. Overall, these studies suggest a potential association between increased UPF intake and adverse metabolic outcomes, although findings on inflammatory markers remain inconsistent. A larger body of indirect evidence, including studies assessing dietary inflammatory indices and related dietary patterns, consistently supports a link between pro-inflammatory diets and increased inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in pediatric populations. Conclusions: Although direct evidence on UPF consumption remains limited, the available findings, supported by complementary indirect evidence, suggest a plausible relationship between UPF-rich diets, inflammation, and metabolic health in children and adolescents. Further well-designed studies are needed to clarify causality and improve the standardization of dietary assessment methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity, Inflammation and Diet: The Link Between What We Eat and Chronic Diseases)
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