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Nutrition, Adipose Tissue, and Human Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 3699

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Friedman Diabetes Institute, Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health, New York, NY 10022, USA
2. Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Hempstead, NY 11030, USA
3. Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
Interests: adipose tissue; obesity; inflammation; diabetes; breast cancer
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adipose tissue, once viewed simply as an energy storage depot, is now recognized as a complex endocrine organ. It releases a wide range of bioactive molecules that influence systemic metabolism, inflammation, and overall health. Disruptions in adipose tissue function, often associated with obesity, can trigger chronic inflammation and contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and liver disease.

Nutrition plays a crucial role in modulating adipose tissue function. Dietary patterns, specific nutrients, and bioactive food components can either exacerbate or mitigate adipose tissue dysfunction and related inflammation. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest research on the intersection of adipose tissue, nutrition, inflammation, and chronic disease. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address the following topics:

Mechanisms linking adipose tissue dysfunction to metabolic disease.
The impact of dietary components on adipose tissue inflammation and endocrine functions.
Nutritional interventions for targeting adipose tissue-related inflammation and metabolic health.
The role of the gut microbiome in the adipose–nutrition axis.
Novel strategies for assessing adipose tissue function and its response to nutritional interventions.

Dr. Dimiter B. Avtanski
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • adipose tissue
  • nutrition
  • obesity
  • inflammation
  • metabolic disease
  • type 2 diabetes
  • dyslipidemia
  • liver disease
  • cardiovascular disease
  • endocrine function
  • gut microbiome

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 577 KiB  
Article
Liver Fibrosis Is Positively and Independently Associated with Leptin Circulating Levels in Individuals That Are Overweight and Obese: A FibroScan-Based Cross-Sectional Study
by Nicole Cerabino, Martina Di Chito, Davide Guido, Vincenza Di Stasi, Caterina Bonfiglio, Giuseppe Lisco, Endrit Shahini, Marianna Zappimbulso, Raffaele Cozzolongo, Valeria Tutino, Arianna Diciolla, Rosanna Mallamaci, Dolores Stabile, Anna Ancona, Sergio Coletta, Pasqua Letizia Pesole, Gianluigi Giannelli and Giovanni De Pergola
Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1908; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111908 - 1 Jun 2025
Viewed by 271
Abstract
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is strongly correlated with the severity of obesity, and the extent of liver fibrosis is associated with a higher risk of liver-related complications, cardiovascular events, and overall mortality. Leptin circulating levels are directly correlated with the [...] Read more.
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is strongly correlated with the severity of obesity, and the extent of liver fibrosis is associated with a higher risk of liver-related complications, cardiovascular events, and overall mortality. Leptin circulating levels are directly correlated with the amount of adipose tissue. Aims: In the present study, we investigated the association between circulating leptin levels and liver steatosis and fibrosis. Methods: Eighty-six patients (41.7 ± 12.6 yrs, 35 men, 41%), naïve to medications, who attended the Nutrition Center for the Research and Care of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases at the National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis” for weight management, were cross-sectionally evaluated. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. All patients underwent liver ultrasonographic assessment by FibroScan to diagnose liver steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter, CAP > 275 dBm) and fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement, LSM > 8.2 kPa). Results: Sixty-three individuals (73.3%) had liver steatosis, and 17 (19.8%) had liver fibrosis. The mean leptin levels were 22.3 ± 14.1 ng/mL, while the BMI and waist circumference were 36.7 ± 7.2 kg/m2 and 114.5 ± 16.4 cm, respectively. CAP values exhibited no correlation with leptin (r = 0.09, p = 0.436), while a significant connection was seen between leptin and LSM (β = 0.065; p = 0.038). Specifically, for each unit increase in leptin, LSM values were varied by +0.065 units (p = 0.038). This association was independent of gender, age, insulin resistance, adiponectin, RBP4, and visfatin. This is the first study showing these results by using FibroScan assessment in patients naïve to medications. Conclusions: Circulating leptin concentrations are independently correlated with hepatic fibrosis in individuals with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. These findings indicate a function for leptin in promoting liver fibrosis; however, longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the causal nature of this interaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Adipose Tissue, and Human Health)
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14 pages, 6952 KiB  
Article
Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation and Brain Structure in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults
by Yujia Bao, Xixi Chen, Yongxuan Li, Shenghao Yuan, Lefei Han, Xiaobei Deng and Jinjun Ran
Nutrients 2024, 16(14), 2313; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16142313 - 18 Jul 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2866
Abstract
Low-grade inflammation (LGI) mainly acted as the mediator of the association of obesity and inflammatory diet with numerous chronic diseases, including neuropsychiatric diseases. However, the evidence about the effect of LGI on brain structure is limited but important, especially in the context of [...] Read more.
Low-grade inflammation (LGI) mainly acted as the mediator of the association of obesity and inflammatory diet with numerous chronic diseases, including neuropsychiatric diseases. However, the evidence about the effect of LGI on brain structure is limited but important, especially in the context of accelerating aging. This study was then designed to close the gap, and we leveraged a total of 37,699 participants from the UK Biobank and utilized inflammation score (INFLA-score) to measure LGI. We built the longitudinal relationships of INFLA-score with brain imaging phenotypes using multiple linear regression models. We further analyzed the interactive effects of specific covariates. The results showed high level inflammation reduced the volumes of the subcortex and cortex, especially the globus pallidus (β [95% confidence interval] = −0.062 [−0.083, −0.041]), thalamus (−0.053 [−0.073, −0.033]), insula (−0.052 [−0.072, −0.032]), superior temporal gyrus (−0.049 [−0.069, −0.028]), lateral orbitofrontal cortex (−0.047 [−0.068, −0.027]), and others. Most significant effects were observed among urban residents. Furthermore, males and individuals with physical frailty were susceptive to the associations. The study provided potential insights into pathological changes during disease progression and might aid in the development of preventive and control targets in an age-friendly city to promote great health and well-being for sustainable development goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Adipose Tissue, and Human Health)
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