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Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 19516

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Dr. Yongting Luo

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Guest Editor

Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: cardiovascular disease; atherosclerosis; vascular remodeling; cancer; mitochondria; cell signaling; cell metabolism
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Dr. Junjie Luo

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Guest Editor

Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: metabolic diseases; cancer; aging; molecular nutrition; mitochondrial metabolism; mitochondrial metal ions; mtDNA mutation/editing; ROS; ferroptosis
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Dr. Peng An

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Guest Editor

Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: iron metabolism; oxidative stress; intervention strategies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A growing body of research indicates an extensive metabolic dysfunction in a spectrum of chronic diseases, comprising aging, cancer and diseases affecting cardiovascular system, liver and kidney. The phenotypes associated with metabolic dysfunction vary depending on disease type and stage. In turn, the altered metabolism drives disease pathology. Consequently, nutritional modulation of metabolic status in chronic disease is widely acknowledged to reduce disease incidence. For instance, tailored nutritional intervention in cancers with altered metabolism determines the improved therapeutic responses. Additionally, counteracting muscle loss and osteoporosis are clinical goals of nutritional support in an aged population. Mechanistically, bioactive nutrients or tailored nutritional regimen modulate metabolism through mitochondrial homeostasis, immuno-regulation, as well as epigenome regulation to impact disease progression.

This Special Issue aims to be an interdisciplinary platform that covers:

Characterization of metabolic features and/or nutritional requirement in a certain type of chronic disease;
Defining the effects and mechanism of a specific nutrient or nutritional intervention on metabolism;
Development of new nutritional strategy that improves disease outcome by altering metabolism.

We invite well-designed research articles, reviews and meta-analyses addressing all the above issues.

Dr. Yongting Luo
Dr. Junjie Luo
Dr. Peng An
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

chronic disease
cardiovascular disease
kidney disease
liver disease
aging
cancer
metabolic feature
metabolic reprogramming
bioactive nutrients
nutritional intervention

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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21 pages, 3929 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Celastrol-Enriched Peanuts on Metabolic Health and the Development of Atherosclerosis

by Jiaxin Shi, Yitong Cheng, Chenxuan Wang, Min Liu, Mingxuan Qu, Shuaishuai Zhou, Leon Chen, Xiaohao Li, Junjie Luo, Yongting Luo, Chao Luo and Peng An

Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1418; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091418 - 23 Apr 2025

Viewed by 151

Abstract

Background: Celastrol, a pentacyclic triterpenoid active component isolated from the root bark of the traditional medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii, displays significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. However, its clinical application remains limited due to inadequate bioavailability. Methods: Regarding these issues, we innovatively developed a novel peanut cultivar (cel-peanut) enriched with celastrol through distant hybridization combined with metabolomics screening. Guided by the research concept of “natural anti-inflammatory diets for metabolic disease management”, we established a high-fat diet-induced ApoE^−/− atherosclerotic mouse model to systematically evaluate the anti-atherosclerosis effects and mechanisms of cel-peanut. Results: Our results revealed that cel-peanut significantly reduced serum levels of triglycerides (TGs) and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Concurrently, cel-peanut markedly decreased the atherosclerotic lesion area and enhanced collagen content within plaques. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that cel-peanut reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and suppressed the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in atherosclerotic lesions. Furthermore, cel-peanut promoted intestinal health by modulating the composition and functionality of gut microbiota, thereby attenuating atherosclerosis progression. Conclusions: Overall, these findings indicate that cel-peanut exerts therapeutic effects against atherosclerosis through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and gut microbiota-modulating properties. This study proposes a novel nutritional intervention strategy for atherosclerosis and provides a promising adjuvant strategy for clinical atherosclerosis treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

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16 pages, 2563 KiB

Open AccessArticle

EGCG Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis by Inhibiting Ferroptosis Through the Activation of the Nrf2-GPX4 Pathway and Enhancing Iron Metabolism

by Junzhou Chen, Conghui Yin, Yilong Zhang, Xin Lai, Chen Liu, Yuheng Luo, Junqiu Luo, Jun He, Bing Yu, Quyuan Wang, Huifen Wang, Daiwen Chen and Aimin Wu

Nutrients 2025, 17(3), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030547 - 31 Jan 2025

Viewed by 971

Abstract

Background: Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death process linked to various diseases. This study explored whether Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a tea-derived antioxidant, could regulate ferroptosis to alleviate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Methods: A DSS-induced colitis model was used to assess EGCG’s effects. Ferroptosis markers, oxidative stress, and iron metabolism were evaluated, alongside Nrf2-GPX4 pathway activation and ferritin (FTH/L) expression. Results: Iron dysregulation and oxidative stress contributed to DSS-induced colitis by activating ferroptosis in colonic epithelial cells. EGCG supplementation inhibited ferroptosis, reducing oxidative damage. Mechanistically, EGCG activated the Nrf2-GPX4 pathway, enhancing antioxidant defense, and improved iron metabolism by upregulating ferritin expression. Conclusions: EGCG effectively suppressed DSS-induced ferroptosis and colitis, highlighting its potential as a ferroptosis inhibitor and therapeutic agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

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19 pages, 7158 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pea Albumin Extracted from Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Seeds Ameliorates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Regulating Lipogenesis and Lipolysis Pathways

by Shucheng Zhang, Zhengwu Cui, Hao Zhang, Pengjie Wang, Fuqing Wang and Jian Zhang

Nutrients 2024, 16(14), 2232; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16142232 - 11 Jul 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1754

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now recognized as the most prevalent liver disease globally. Pea albumin (PA) has demonstrated positive impacts on reducing obesity and improving glucose metabolism. In this research, a mouse model of NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) was employed to examine the impact of PA on NAFLD and explore its potential mechanisms. The findings revealed that mice subjected to a HFD developed pronounced fatty liver alterations. The intervention with PA significantly lowered serum TC by 26.81%, TG by 43.55%, and LDL-C by 57.79%. It also elevated HDL-C levels by 1.2 fold and reduced serum ALT by 37.94% and AST by 31.21% in mice fed a HFD. These changes contributed to the reduction in hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation. Additionally, PA improved insulin resistance and inhibited hepatic oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Mechanistic studies revealed that PA alleviated lipid accumulation in HFD-induced NAFLD by activating the phosphorylation of AMPKα and ACC, inhibiting the expression of SREBF1 and FASN to reduce hepatic lipogenesis, and increasing the expression of ATGL, PPARα, and PPARγ to promote lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. These results indicate that PA could serve as a dietary supplement for alleviating NAFLD, offering a theoretical foundation for the rational intake of PA in NAFLD intervention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

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15 pages, 726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preoperative Multistrain Probiotic Supplementation Does Not Affect Body Weight Changes or Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Bariatrics: Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

by Marta Potrykus, Sylwia Czaja-Stolc, Marta Stankiewicz, Michał Szymański, Igor Łoniewski, Łukasz Kaska and Monika Proczko-Stepaniak

Nutrients 2024, 16(13), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132055 - 27 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2043

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that microbiota plays a crucial role in the development, progression, and therapeutic options in obesity and its comorbidities. This study assessed preoperative probiotic therapy’s impact on bariatric treatment outcomes. A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 48 patients undergoing bariatric surgery was conducted. Participants received probiotics—Sanprobi Barrier—which contained nine strains of bacteria: Bifidobacterium bifidum W23, Bifidobacterium lactis W51 and W52, Lactobacillus acidophilus W37, Levilactobacillus brevis W63, Lacticaseibacillus casei W56, Ligilactobacillus salivarius W24, Lactococcus lactis W19, and Lactococcus lactis W58. Primary outcomes included excess body weight loss, body weight loss, and excess body mass index loss, with secondary objectives focusing on metabolic profiles. Surgical treatment of obesity significantly improved anthropometric and metabolic parameters. No significant differences were observed in primary outcomes or in secondary outcomes between groups at any time point post-surgery. Preoperative probiotics administration did not affect clinical outcomes 1, 3, or 6 months following bariatric surgery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

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15 pages, 3426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Targeting Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Hawthorn Ethanol Extract (HEE): A Comprehensive Examination of Hepatic Lipid Reduction and Gut Microbiota Modulation

by Tianyu Wang, Dawei Wang, Yinghui Ding, He Xu, Yue Sun, Jumin Hou and Yanrong Zhang

Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091335 - 29 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2217

Abstract

Recent studies have highlighted the lipid-lowering ability of hawthorn ethanol extract (HEE) and the role played by gut flora in the efficacy of HEE. Our study sought to explore the effects of HEE on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in normal flora and pseudo germ-free mice. The results showed that HEE effectively diminished hepatic lipid accumulation, ameliorated liver function, reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and blood lipid profiles, and regulated blood glucose levels. HEE facilitated triglyceride breakdown, suppressed fatty acid synthesis, and enhanced intestinal health by modulating the diversity of the gut microbiota and the production of short-chain fatty acids in the gut. In addition, HEE apparently helps to increase the presence of beneficial genera of bacteria, thereby influencing the composition of the gut microbiota, and the absence of gut flora affects the efficacy of HEE. These findings reveal the potential of hawthorn for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD and provide new perspectives on the study of functional plants to improve liver health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

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16 pages, 286 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Positive Association of Serum Vitamin B6 Levels with Intrapulmonary Lymph Node and/or Localized Pleural Metastases in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study

by Lu Liu, Hang Yu, Jingmin Bai, Qing Xu, Yong Zhang, Xinsheng Zhang, Zhimeng Yu and Yinghua Liu

Nutrients 2023, 15(10), 2340; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102340 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

The relationship between vitamin B levels and the development and progression of lung cancer remains inconclusive. We aimed to investigate the relationship between B vitamins and intrapulmonary lymph nodes as well as localized pleural metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This was a retrospective study including patients who underwent lung surgery for suspected NSCLC at our institution from January 2016 to December 2018. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between serum B vitamin levels and intrapulmonary lymph node and/or localized pleural metastases. Stratified analysis was performed according to different clinical characteristics and tumor types. A total of 1498 patients were included in the analyses. Serum vitamin B₆ levels showed a positive association with intrapulmonary metastasis in a multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio (OR) of 1.016, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.002–1.031, p = 0.021). After multivariable adjustment, we found a high risk of intrapulmonary metastasis in patients with high serum vitamin B₆ levels (fourth quartile (Q4) vs. Q1, OR of 1.676, 95%CI of 1.092 to 2.574, p = 0.018, p for trend of 0.030). Stratified analyses showed that the positive association between serum vitamin B₆ and lymph node metastasis appeared to be stronger in females, current smokers, current drinkers, and those with a family history of cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, a tumor of 1–3 cm in diameter, or a solitary tumor. Even though serum vitamin B₆ levels were associated with preoperative NSCLC upstaging, B₆ did not qualify as a useful biomarker due to weak association and wide confidence intervals. Thus, it would be appropriate to prospectively investigate the relationship between serum vitamin B₆ levels and lung cancer further. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

14 pages, 7487 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low Zinc Alleviates the Progression of Thoracic Aortic Dissection by Inhibiting Inflammation

by Lin Zhu, Peng An, Wenting Zhao, Yi Xia, Jingyi Qi, Junjie Luo and Yongting Luo

Nutrients 2023, 15(7), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071640 - 28 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3405

Abstract

Vascular inflammation triggers the development of thoracic aortic dissection (TAD). Zinc deficiency could dampen tissue inflammation. However, the role of zinc as a nutritional intervention in the progression of TAD remains elusive. In this study, we employed a classical β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate (BAPN)-induced TAD model in mice treated with low zinc and observed that the TAD progression was greatly ameliorated under low zinc conditions. Our results showed that low zinc could significantly improve aortic dissection and rupture (BAPN + low zinc vs. BAPN, 36% vs. 100%) and reduce mortality (BAPN + low zinc vs. BAPN, 22% vs. 57%). Mechanically, low zinc attenuated the infiltration of macrophages and inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines, suppressed the phenotype switch of vascular smooth muscle cells from contractile to synthetic types, and eventually alleviated the development of TAD. In conclusion, this study suggested that low zinc may serve as a potential nutritional intervention approach for TAD prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

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15 pages, 2685 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Caprylic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Lipids, Inflammatory Levels, and the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway in ABCA1-Deficient Mice and ABCA1 Knock-Down RAW264.7 Cells

by Xinsheng Zhang, Peng Zhang, Yinghua Liu, Zhao Liu, Qing Xu, Yong Zhang, Lu Liu, Xueyan Yang, Liya Li and Changyong Xue

Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1296; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051296 - 6 Mar 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3316

Abstract

Our previous studies have found that caprylic acid (C8:0) can improve blood lipids and reduce inflammation levels and may be related to the upregulation of the p-JAK2/p-STAT3 pathway by ABCA1. This study aims to investigate the effects of C8:0 and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on lipids, inflammatory levels, and the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in ABCA1-deficient mice (ABCA1^−/−) and ABCA1 knock-down (ABCA1-KD) RAW 264.7 cells. Twenty 6-week ABCA1^−/− mice were randomly divided into four groups and fed a high-fat diet, or a diet of 2% C8:0, 2% palmitic acid (C16:0) or 2% EPA for 8 weeks, respectively. The RAW 264.7 cells were divided into the control or control + LPS group, and the ABCA1-KD RAW 264.7 cells were divided into ABCA1-KD with LPS (LPS group), ABCA1-KD with LPS + C8:0 (C8:0 group), and ABCA1-KD with LPS + EPA (EPA group). Serum lipid profiles and inflammatory levels were measured, and ABCA1 and JAK2/STAT3 mRNA and protein expressions were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, respectively. Our results showed that serum lipid and inflammatory levels increased in ABCA1^−/− mice (p < 0.05). After the intervention of different fatty acids in ABCA1^−/− mice, TG and TNF-α were significantly lower, while MCP-1 increased significantly in the C8:0 group (p < 0.05); however, LDL-C, TC, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 levels decreased significantly and IL-10 increased significantly in the EPA group (p < 0.05). In the aorta of ABCA1^−/− mice, C8:0 significantly decreased p-STAT3 and p-JAK2 mRNA, while EPA significantly reduced TLR4 and NF-κBp65 mRNA. In the ABCA1-KD RAW 264.7 cells, TNF-α and MCP-1 were increased significantly and IL-10 and IL-1β were significantly decreased in the C8:0 group (p < 0.05). The protein expressions of ABCA1 and p-JAK2 were significantly higher, and the NF-κBp65 was significantly lower in the C8:0 and EPA groups (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, compared to the C8:0 group, the NF-κBp65 protein expression was significantly lower in the EPA group (p < 0.05). Our study showed that EPA had better effects than C8:0 on inhibiting inflammation and improving blood lipids in the absence of ABCA1. C8:0 may be involved mainly in inhibiting inflammation through upregulation of the ABCA1 and p-JAK2/p-STAT3 pathways, while EPA may be involved mainly in inhibiting inflammation through the TLR4/NF-κBp65 signaling pathway. The upregulation of the ABCA1 expression pathway by functional nutrients may provide research targets for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

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14 pages, 935 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

The Interplay Between Depression, Probiotics, Diet, Immunometabolic Health, the Gut, and the Liver—A Secondary Analysis of the Pro-Demet Randomized Clinical Trial

by Oliwia Gawlik-Kotelnicka, Jakub Rogalski, Karolina H. Czarnecka-Chrebelska, Jacek Burzyński, Paulina Jakubowska, Anna Skowrońska and Dominik Strzelecki

Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4024; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234024 - 24 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1912

Abstract

(1) Background: Depression, metabolic alternations, and liver diseases are highly comorbid. Studies have shown that probiotics might be helpful in the treatment of the above-mentioned states. The aim of this secondary analysis was to search for possible predictors of probiotics’ efficacy on liver-related outcome measures. (2) Methods: Data from 92 subjects from a randomized clinical trial on the effect of probiotics on depression were analyzed. The shift in liver steatosis and fibrosis indices was assessed in the context of baseline immunometabolic, psychometric, dietary, and intestinal permeability factors. Correlation analysis and linear regression models were used. (3) Results: A total of 30% of the variance of the improvement in the score of the aspartate transferase to platelet ratio index was explained by probiotic use, higher pre-intervention triglycerides, cholesterol, C-reactive protein levels, increased cereal intake, and a lower consumption of sweets. Then, the model of the change in alanine transferase indicated that probiotics were efficient when used by subjects with higher basal levels of intestinal permeability markers. (4) Conclusions: Probiotics being used along with a healthy diet may provide additional benefits, such as decreased cardiovascular risk, for patients with measures consistent with the immunometabolic form of depression. Probiotic augmentation may be useful for liver protection among subjects with a suspected “leaky gut” syndrome. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04756544. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Features and Nutritional Interventions in Chronic Diseases)

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