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Associations of Diet and Body Composition with the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 August 2026 | Viewed by 1523

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jennifer Carter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
Interests: adiposity; dietary intake and other vascular risk

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dietary factors are some of the most important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease around the globe. Previous research has identified that certain aspects of a poor diet, like hypercaloric diets that are high in sodium and low in fiber and polyunsaturated fats, may be key risk factors. However, as research has progressed, many questions remain about the way the composition of diets and their impact on body composition (i.e., the amount and location of fat and muscle mass around the body) can affect cardiovascular health, particularly in diverse and underrepresented groups. This Special Issue on the “Associations of Diet and Body Composition with the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease” invites researchers to submit original research and review articles in this area. Topics may include, but are not limited to, macronutrients and micronutrients (and particularly the food sources underlying these nutrients), dietary patterns, ultra-processed foods, dietary consumption in underrepresented groups and diverse populations, novel measurements of diet and body composition, the food matrix, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease like blood pressure, blood lipids, or glycaemia. Epidemiological research, trials, and implementation research are all welcome. Ultimately, the aim of this Special Issue is to advance our understanding about how dietary intake and body composition relate to cardiovascular health in a way that can inform the future of public health guidance for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. 

Dr. Jennifer Carter
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.

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

  • dietary intake
  • macronutrients
  • micronutrients
  • obesity
  • body composition
  • dietary patterns
  • cardiovascular disease (CVD)

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1601 KB  
Article
Association of Dietary Acid Load with Metabolic Syndrome-Related Parameters Following Eating Habit Modification in Korean Adults
by Ye Jin Kim, Chaerin Kim, Jihyun Park, Miok Choi, Won Suk An and Oh Yoen Kim
Nutrients 2026, 18(5), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18050864 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 375
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study examined the association between dietary acid load (DAL) and metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related parameters in Korean adults undergoing eating habit modification. Methods: Forty-eight Korean adults (≥19 years) with at least one MetS risk factor were recruited via public advertisement. Anthropometric and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study examined the association between dietary acid load (DAL) and metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related parameters in Korean adults undergoing eating habit modification. Methods: Forty-eight Korean adults (≥19 years) with at least one MetS risk factor were recruited via public advertisement. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, Nutrition Quotient (NQ) scores, and nutrient intake were assessed. The DAL was calculated and expressed as the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and the net endogenous acid production (NEAP). Results: Forty participants completed the 8-week intervention. Overall improvements were observed in total and domain-specific NQ scores, along with improvements in body composition, blood pressure, and glycemic parameters. Among all participants, the mean DAL scores did not change significantly after FDR correction, although the NEAP showed a modest non-significant decrease. Baseline PRAL and NEAP values did not differ between participants with and without MetS risk improvement. At weeks 4 and 8, DAL indices tended to decrease in the improved group and increase in the non-improved group, with a significant between-group difference observed only for the 8-week change in NEAP after FDR correction. While no significant associations were detected at baseline after FDR adjustment, cross-sectional associations between DAL indices and adiposity-related parameters were observed at week 8, particularly when DAL was expressed as NEAP. However, change-to-change analyses did not remain significant after FDR correction. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, DAL levels, especially NEAP, were associated with anthropometric and metabolic status at week 8; however, the absence of significant change-to-change correlations limits causal interpretation. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether modification of DAL independently contributes to metabolic improvement (Trial registration number: KCT0011528). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Associations of Diet and Body Composition with the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease)
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Review

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22 pages, 2138 KB  
Review
Epicardial and Visceral Adipose Tissue and Global Longitudinal Strain: A Review of Cardiac Imaging Insights in Subclinical Myocardial Dysfunction
by Marco Vicardi, Afshin Farzaneh-Far, Cristiano Fava, Luca Dalle Carbonare and Simone Romano
Nutrients 2026, 18(6), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18061009 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 679
Abstract
Background: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) are increasingly recognized as relevant contributors to cardiometabolic alterations and subclinical myocardial dysfunction, independently of overall obesity. Their pathogenic role extends beyond simple fat accumulation, encompassing inflammatory activation, lipotoxicity, and altered myocardial metabolism. [...] Read more.
Background: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) are increasingly recognized as relevant contributors to cardiometabolic alterations and subclinical myocardial dysfunction, independently of overall obesity. Their pathogenic role extends beyond simple fat accumulation, encompassing inflammatory activation, lipotoxicity, and altered myocardial metabolism. Objective: This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the relationships between VAT/EAT and myocardial strain parameters, with emphasis on subclinical cardiovascular risk detection and nutritional interventions. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of studies published between 2003–2025, focusing on imaging-based assessments of adipose tissue distribution and strain parameters using echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance. Results: Increased EAT and, to a lesser extent, VAT showed significant associations with impaired global longitudinal strain (GLS) across imaging-based studies. In patients with type 2 diabetes, VAT mediated a substantial proportion of the association between insulin resistance and left ventricular dysfunction. Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with lower epicardial adipose tissue burden, while higher EAT was associated with persistent atrial fibrillation among patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation. Speckle-tracking echocardiography consistently showed superior prognostic value compared to ejection fraction for detecting subclinical dysfunction. Conclusions: VAT and EAT represent important mechanistic links between body composition and early myocardial dysfunction, identifiable through advanced strain imaging before clinical disease becomes apparent. These findings support the integration of multimodal cardiac imaging and nutritional interventions into cardiovascular prevention strategies, providing novel opportunities for early risk stratification and personalized treatment approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Associations of Diet and Body Composition with the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease)
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