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Feature Papers in Proteins and Amino Acids in Relation to Human Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Proteins and Amino Acids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025 | Viewed by 929

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Philip J. Atherton

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Interests: skeletal muscle; nutrition; metabolism; protein synthesis; ageing; cell signalling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight the functional role of dietary proteins and their amino acid constituents in the context of human health. This Special Issue, focusing primarily on human/clinical research, seeks original research papers and review articles (both narrative and systematic in nature) outlining the role(s) of proteins/amino acids in regulating metabolism across any tissue of the body in health, exercise, inactivity, and disease states. This Special Issue is relevant for observational and interventional trials, in addition to biomarker and bioactive compound-related research. Studies of human cell data derived from in vitro investigations of proteins, peptides, and amino acids are also within the scope of this Special Issue, as are studies using animal models, where the model’s translational reference to humans is clearly illustrated.

Prof. Dr. Philip J. Atherton
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • health
  • disease
  • proteins
  • amino acids
  • cells
  • humans
  • biomarkers
  • bioactives

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 1652 KiB  
Article
A Community-Based Mixed-Methods Study: Fish Bycatch Protein Supplementation as a Sustainable Solution for Child Malnutrition in Bengaluru, India
by Kristen P. Yang, Sunil K. Khanna, Angela Chaudhuri, Syama B. Syam and Tammy M. Bray
Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1751; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111751 (registering DOI) - 22 May 2025
Abstract
Objective: Malnutrition remains a global challenge to child development, with urban slums in India experiencing high rates of protein deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost, fish bycatch-derived protein supplement in supporting catch-up growth among malnourished children. Methods: Using [...] Read more.
Objective: Malnutrition remains a global challenge to child development, with urban slums in India experiencing high rates of protein deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost, fish bycatch-derived protein supplement in supporting catch-up growth among malnourished children. Methods: Using the Sustainable Community Partnership and Empowerment (SCOPE) model, we implemented a 90-day intervention with daily 10 g of Advanced Protein Powder (APP), produced from underutilized fish bycatch. Forty-six malnourished children (aged 3–6) from Bengaluru slums were randomized into a Control group receiving caloric support or an APP supplement group. Growth indicators, cognition, and caregiver perspectives were assessed. Results: Children receiving the APP supplement showed a significant increase in the weight-for-age percentile (underweight), rising by 7.59%, compared to 0.59% in the Control group (p = 0.02185). Muscle growth, measured by mid-upper arm circumference, also improved significantly in the APP Group (p < 0.05). In the first month, APP supplementation led to a significant height gain of 1.86 cm (p < 0.001), whereas the Control group showed no change (p > 0.05). Additionally, APP supplementation enhanced cognitive function, visual processing, short-term memory, and planning ability, with sustained effects at six months (p < 0.05). Caregivers reported noticeable improvements in children’s vitality, appetite, focus, and engagement in social and learning activities. Conclusions: Bycatch-derived protein supplementation, implemented through the SCOPE model, enhanced physical growth, behavior, and cognition in malnourished children in urban slums. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects, scalability, and adaptability of this sustainable solution for addressing child malnutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Proteins and Amino Acids in Relation to Human Health)
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Review

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25 pages, 1923 KiB  
Review
Proteins and Amino Acids from Edible Insects for the Human Diet—A Narrative Review Considering Environmental Sustainability and Regulatory Challenges
by Lukas Nachtigall, Tilman Grune and Daniela Weber
Nutrients 2025, 17(7), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071245 - 2 Apr 2025
Viewed by 741
Abstract
The scientific interest in edible insects as an alternative source of high-value protein for the human diet has increased drastically over the last decade. Edible insects harbour enormous potential in terms of planetary health. Their lower water and land use, lower feed conversion [...] Read more.
The scientific interest in edible insects as an alternative source of high-value protein for the human diet has increased drastically over the last decade. Edible insects harbour enormous potential in terms of planetary health. Their lower water and land use, lower feed conversion ratios, and overall lower global warming potential paired with a high nutritional value compared with conventional livestock are key drivers towards an environmentally sustainable diet. However, low consumer acceptance, as well as regulatory challenges, have slowed down the success of edible insects in Western countries, despite edible insects being consumed regularly all over the world. To date, four edible insect species have been approved as novel foods in the European Union—namely yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), house cricket (Acheta domesticus), and lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus). Depending on the species, they have a high protein content (48–67%), with a beneficial indispensable amino acid profile, high fat content (21–39%), with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids based on the dry matter, and contain reasonable amounts of minerals and vitamins. Unlike other animal-based foods, edible insects contain dietary fibre. Data on the bioavailability of nutrients in humans are scarce. Although numerous publications have investigated the nutritional profiles, environmental impacts, and future perspectives of edible insects, here, those findings are reviewed critically, as some publications were partially contradictory or related to selected species only. In this narrative review, we emphasise that edible insects could play a key role in a changing world with a steadily increasing demand for nutritionally valuable food and the depletion of natural resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Proteins and Amino Acids in Relation to Human Health)
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