nutrients-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Nutritional Insights and Challenges in Gastrointestinal Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2026) | Viewed by 3577

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Oral Diagnostics & Research, School of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Interests: periodontitis; oral biology and health; bioactive compounds; metabolic disease and oral hygiene
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases encompass a broad spectrum of conditions that affect the digestive system, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, and gastrointestinal cancers, among others. These conditions often have a profound impact on nutritional health, and managing nutrition becomes an essential part of treating and supporting patients with GI disorders. Understanding the nutritional challenges and insights into these diseases is critical for improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Many factors play a role, but some of the most prevalent include malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies, impact on the gut microbiome, dietary patterns and symptom management, inflammation and healing, weight management, and GI health.

Many patients with GI disorders face dietary restrictions based on their condition. For instance, individuals with IBDs may need to avoid certain fiber-rich foods during flare-ups, while people with celiac disease must strictly avoid gluten. These restrictions can limit food choices and lead to challenges in maintaining a balanced, nutrient-dense diet. Educating patients on how to navigate these restrictions without compromising nutritional intake is a key challenge for healthcare providers. Other factors also weigh in, such as medications, gastrointestinal surgery and nutritional recovery, psychological and social factors, and the complexity of individualized diet plans.

Therefore, nutritional care plays a fundamental role in the management of gastrointestinal diseases. Addressing the challenges of nutrient malabsorption, food sensitivities, and the impacts of medications and surgery requires careful consideration and individualized interventions. A well-balanced diet tailored to the specific needs of patients with GI conditions can significantly improve symptom control, prevent nutritional deficiencies, and support overall health. By integrating nutritional therapy with medical treatments, healthcare providers can help to optimize the quality of life and long-term well-being of individuals living with gastrointestinal diseases.

Dr. Chethan Sampath
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

  • gastrointestinal diseases
  • malabsorption
  • gut microbiome
  • inflammation
  • co-morbidities

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

13 pages, 430 KB  
Article
Usefulness of Nutritional Intervention Through New Digital Technologies in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
by Cristina Suárez Ferrer, I. Martorell Mariné, J. L. Rueda García, C. Cubillo García, L. García Ramírez, C. Amiama Roig, M. Sánchez Azofra, J. Poza Cordon, E. Martin Arranz, C. García-Rojas Pleite, J. Noci Belda and Maria Dolores Martin-Arranz
Nutrients 2026, 18(6), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18060910 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 539
Abstract
Background: Malnutrition and suboptimal diet quality are common, yet under-recognized, in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are associated with worse clinical outcomes and lower quality of life. Digital tools may facilitate continuous, personalized nutritional support, but evidence in IBD remains limited. The aim [...] Read more.
Background: Malnutrition and suboptimal diet quality are common, yet under-recognized, in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are associated with worse clinical outcomes and lower quality of life. Digital tools may facilitate continuous, personalized nutritional support, but evidence in IBD remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nutritional intervention based on a mobile application (Nootric®) on nutritional status, diet quality, and malnutrition risk in patients with IBD undergoing stable follow-up. Methods: We conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study without a control group including 151 adult patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis under stable follow-up in a tertiary IBD unit. Participants used a structured digital nutritional support program through the Nootric® app for 24 weeks, supervised by dietitians and the IBD team. Clinical activity, biochemical markers (C-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin), nutritional biomarkers (albumin, prealbumin, micronutrients), body mass index (BMI), malnutrition risk (self-administered Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, MUST), and diet quality (PREDIMED and an expanded “Nootric score”) were assessed at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Analyses focused on patients with adequate adherence. Results: Of the 151 included IBD patients, 110 maintained stable app use. Mean albumin increased from 4.38 to 4.49 g/dL at 24 weeks (p = 0.003), and prealbumin from 24.9 to 26.1 mg/dL (p = 0.047), despite the absence of overt protein–calorie malnutrition at baseline. Patients with obesity achieved a mean weight loss of approximately 6% of baseline body weight. Diet quality improved significantly, with higher Nootric score and a positive correlation between app use intensity and increased score. Malnutrition risk according to the MUST scale improved in more adherent patients, while clinical and biochemical disease activity remained stable overall. Conclusions: A mobile app-based nutritional program supervised by dietitians was feasible, well accepted, and associated with improved nutritional markers, diet quality, and malnutrition risk, supporting its role as a complementary component of IBD care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Insights and Challenges in Gastrointestinal Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

29 pages, 1529 KB  
Systematic Review
The Effect of Dioscoreae Rhizoma on Gastrointestinal Function: A Systematic Review
by Ji-Hye Lee, So-Young Park, Min-Seok Jo, Jae-Woo Park, Jinsung Kim and Seok-Jae Ko
Nutrients 2025, 17(18), 2943; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17182943 - 12 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2503
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Dioscoreae Rhizoma, commonly known as yam, has long been used in East Asia as a medicinal food for gastrointestinal (GI) health. This systematic review aimed to assess the GI-related benefits of Dioscoreae Rhizoma by synthesizing findings from both human clinical [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Dioscoreae Rhizoma, commonly known as yam, has long been used in East Asia as a medicinal food for gastrointestinal (GI) health. This systematic review aimed to assess the GI-related benefits of Dioscoreae Rhizoma by synthesizing findings from both human clinical trials and in vivo experimental studies. Methods: A structured search of eight major databases—including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science—was conducted through April 2025. This systematic review includes both human and in vivo animal studies that investigated the effects of Dioscoreae Rhizoma on gastrointestinal function. Studies such as in vitro experiments, non-original articles and studies involving multi-herbal formulations were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed with three different tools including the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool. Results: Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising two human trials and twenty-five animal experiments. Clinical trials reported improvements in gut-microbiota balance, glycemic control, and postsurgical recovery, including enhanced wound healing and reduced infection rates. In animal models, yam-derived interventions attenuated inflammatory responses, enhanced antioxidant defenses, preserved mucosal-barrier integrity, and favorably modified gut-microbiota composition. Discussion and Conclusions: Accumulating evidence supports the GI-beneficial effects of Dioscoreae Rhizoma, mediated through diverse biological pathways, including immunomodulation, antioxidation, and microbiota regulation. This study has limitations on lack of high-quality human studies, small sample size and heterogeneity among studies regarding different plant parts used, extraction processes, and dosage. Further rigorously designed studies are warranted to clarify the mechanisms, standardize intervention protocols, and validate clinical efficacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Insights and Challenges in Gastrointestinal Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop