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Nutraceuticals, Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods: Their Role in Chronic Diseases (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2026 | Viewed by 5107

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. María D. Navarro-Hortal

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Guest Editor

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
Interests: aging; natural products; neurodegenerative diseases; nutrition; redox biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Alfonso Varela-López

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Guest Editor

Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix Verdú", Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Armilla, Spain
Interests: aging; mitochondria; redox biology; foods; nutrition; age-related diseases; oral health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Considering the success of the previous Special Issue, entitled “Nutraceuticals, Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods: Their Role in Chronic Diseases” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients/special_issues/1H91LP03FU) we are pleased to announce that we are launching a second Special Issue on this topic.

In recent years, the intersection of nutrition, health, and disease prevention has garnered increasing attention from scholars and practitioners. As life expectancy increases globally, so does the burden of noncommunicable diseases, also known as chronic diseases. This underscores the urgent need to implement strategies to reduce their occurrence and negative impacts. Among the primary chronic diseases are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.

The advent of nutraceuticals, bioactive compounds, and functional foods represents a promising frontier in counteracting chronic diseases. Nutraceuticals, characterized by their therapeutic properties, offer a novel approach to complementing traditional healthcare practices. Similarly, bioactive compounds found abundantly in various natural sources possess remarkable potential in modulating biological processes implicated in chronic diseases. Moreover, functional foods fortified with specific nutrients or bioactive ingredients present a convenient and accessible means of promoting health and wellbeing.

The Special Issue “Nutraceuticals, Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods: Their Role in Chronic Diseases (2nd Edition)” of Nutrients aims to explore the multifaceted roles of bioactive compounds and foods in addressing a spectrum of chronic ailments, ranging from cardiovascular diseases and diabetes to cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Contributions to this Special Issue, in the form of original research, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as review or meta-analysis articles, are welcome.

Dr. María D. Navarro-Hortal
Dr. Alfonso Varela-López
Guest Editors

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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.

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Keywords

bioactive compounds
nutraceuticals
nutrition
foods
diet
chronic diseases
cardiovascular diseases
pulmonary disease chronic obstructive
autoimmune diseases
inflammatory bowel diseases
chronic kidney disease
fatty liver
neoplasms
neurodegenerative diseases
diabetes mellitus

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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34 pages, 3061 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fermentation Enhances Antioxidant, Antiplatelet, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Oat- and Soy-Derived Dairy Alternatives

by Nikolaos Koutis, Georgios Liepouris, Ilianna Moysidou, Lydia Vogiatzaki, Katie Shiels, Sushanta Kumar Saha, Anna Ofrydopoulou and Alexandros Tsoupras

Nutrients 2026, 18(8), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18081260 - 16 Apr 2026

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Abstract

Background: The increasing demand for plant-based dairy alternatives has stimulated interest in their potential health-promoting properties, particularly when combined with fermentation processes that may enhance the bio-efficacy and bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Methods: The present study investigated the impact of fermentation on the antioxidant, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory activities of oat- and soy-based dairy alternatives. Total lipids were extracted and fractionated into lipophilic and amphiphilic lipid fractions, which were subsequently evaluated for antioxidant capacity using 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, as well as for their inhibitory activity against platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) or by ADP. Results: Fermentation significantly enhanced the biological activity of the tested products, with fermented samples exhibiting lower IC₅₀ values and thus more potent anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet efficacy and improved antioxidant performance compared with the non-fermented plant-based dairy alternative products. The amphiphilic lipid fractions demonstrated the strongest bioactivity, suggesting that fermentation promotes structural modifications in polar lipids that contribute to enhanced functional properties. Overall, fermented soy products exhibited stronger antiplatelet (anti-ADP) and anti-inflammatory (anti-PAF) activities, with lower IC₅₀ values (indicating higher inhibitory potency), whereas fermented oat products demonstrated particularly enhanced antioxidant capacity, especially in TAC fractions, as evidenced by higher FRAP values and carotenoid content (e.g., oat yogurt TAC: 19.14 ± 9.97 mg CE/g extract). In DPPH assays, TAC fractions of both soy and oat showed comparable radical scavenging activity (TEAC ≈ 0.019 for soy yogurt TAC), while ABTS and FRAP assays highlighted matrix-dependent differences between lipid fractions. Fatty acid analysis further indicated favorable compositional changes associated with fermentation, including favorable alterations in the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio of the fatty acid content of the bioactive polar lipid species, while OMICs analysis indicated the specific molecular species of phospho-/glyco-based polar lipids present in these products. Conclusions: These findings suggest that fermentation can substantially improve the biofunctional profile of plant-based dairy alternatives and highlight fermented oat- and soy-based products as promising dietary sources of bioactive polar lipids with potential cardioprotective properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals, Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods: Their Role in Chronic Diseases (2nd Edition))

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15 pages, 1331 KB

Open AccessArticle

Postoperative Monacolin K Supplementation and Lipid Profile After Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Comparative Analysis in Women

by Krzysztof Nocoń, Urszula Kukla, Daria Gendosz de Carrillo, Claudia Wawrzynosek, Halina Jędrzejowska-Szypułka, Dominika Krakowczyk, Aleksander J. Owczarek, Kamila Szeliga and Tomasz Sawczyn

Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 647; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040647 - 16 Feb 2026

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Abstract

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) reliably reduces weight and triglycerides, but LDL-C responses are variable. In this retrospective observational study, we evaluated whether adjunctive monacolin K (red yeast rice; 3 mg/day) improves early lipid modulation after SG. Methods: In this single-center retrospective study of women only, 149 patients undergoing SG within the national KOS-BAR program were analyzed in four groups: controls without supplementation (CG, n = 62) and three supplementation cohorts receiving monacolin K for 6 months (G1 early (from week 1; n = 46), G2 delayed (months 3–9; n = 10), and G3 delayed (months 6–12; n = 31)). Outcomes included total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, HDL, and triglycerides (TG). Missing data were imputed; mixed models for repeated measures assessed longitudinal changes. Results: From baseline to 6 months, LDL-C-C increased in the control group (CG; +21.9 mg/dL) and decreased in G1 (mean change: −11.1 mg/dL), with a significant group-by-time interaction (p < 0.001). HDL-C increased in both CG and G1, whereas triglyceride levels decreased more markedly in G1 than in CG (−36.2 vs. −19.6 mg/dL). Total cholesterol decreased in G1 (−13.4 mg/dL) and in G2 at 9 months (−22.5 mg/dL). Conclusions: In the early supplementation group, LDL-C-C levels decreased over the first 6 months after SG, whereas an increase was observed in the control group, which had significantly lower baseline LDL-C concentrations. In women undergoing SG, early postoperative monacolin K supplementation was associated with LDL-C stabilization and enhanced lipid optimization without impeding weight-loss benefits. Delayed initiation yields partial improvements, especially for TG and HDL-C. These observations underscore the need for prospective, sex-stratified studies with appropriate baseline adjustments to clarify the association between monacolin K use and postoperative lipid trajectories after SG. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals, Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods: Their Role in Chronic Diseases (2nd Edition))

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20 pages, 5312 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Supplementation with Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. ‘Hangju’ Flower Extract Alleviates Skin Photoaging in SKH-1 Hairless Mice

by Yujie Lao, Ruixuan Geng, Mengjie Li, Seong-Gook Kang, Kunlun Huang, Bin Deng, Huiji Zhou, Rong Luo and Tao Tong

Nutrients 2026, 18(2), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18020329 - 20 Jan 2026

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Skin photoaging represents a predominant form of extrinsic aging, characterized by structural and functional impairment of the skin barrier. In severe cases, it may precipitate dermatological diseases and even tumors. Given the prevalence and detrimental effects of skin photoaging, strategies for its effective prevention and mitigation have garnered significant research interest. Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. ‘Hangju’ contains diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, and polysaccharides, which have been proven to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: This study employed a UVB-induced mouse model of skin photoaging to evaluate the potential of dietary supplementation with Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. ‘Hangju’ flower extract (CME) in vivo. Results: In the photoaged skin of female SKH-1 hairless mice, dietary supplementation with CME significantly increased skin moisture content, reduced wrinkle formation, suppressed epidermal hyperplasia, enhanced collagen density, and suppressed the senescence marker expression and DNA damage marker expression. Analysis of the skin transcriptome suggested that CME could alter gene expression patterns and potentially modulate critical signaling pathways involved in skin homeostasis. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that CME mitigated UVB-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. Conclusions: These preclinical findings reveal the anti-photoaging property of dietary CME supplementation and point to its potential application as a functional dietary supplement for promoting skin health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals, Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods: Their Role in Chronic Diseases (2nd Edition))

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Open AccessStudy Protocol

CherryZZZ: A Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Pilot Study Testing Tart Cherry Juice in Older Adults with Self-Reported Insomnia

by Esther VanderMark, Amir Baniassadi, Alex Wolfe, Dennis P. Cladis, Alyssa B. Dufour and Courtney L. Millar

Nutrients 2026, 18(6), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18060922 - 14 Mar 2026

Viewed by 1613

Abstract

Introduction: Two small, preliminary pilot studies report that 2 weeks of daily tart cherry juice consumption (half of the dose in the morning, half of the dose at night) may increase sleep quantity (assessed via a sleep diary or 1 night of polysomnography) in older adults with insomnia. A study of longer duration, with doses closer to bedtime, and daily objective monitoring of sleep via a wearable device may potentiate the observed impact of tart cherry juice intake on sleep. With the proposed changes to the study protocol, it is paramount to evaluate the study’s feasibility. Methods: The current study is a single-site, randomized, double-blind, cross-over pilot study in 20 older adults with self-reported insomnia. Eligible individuals will be randomly assigned to consume 16 oz. of tart cherry juice/day or placebo juice for 4 weeks each, separated by a 3-week washout period. Information on study feasibility, including recruitment rate, retention rate, safety, compliance, and study practicality, will be collected, as well as pre- and post-arm evaluations of sleep quantity/quality and biomarkers related to melatonin, cortisol, serotonin, and inflammation. Discussion: Identification of a dietary intervention that improves sleep quantity and quality may serve as a novel and feasible approach for older adults who suffer from insomnia. If successful, such a strategy would help mitigate the plethora of health consequences associated with poor sleep. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutraceuticals, Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods: Their Role in Chronic Diseases (2nd Edition))

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