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Nutrients
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Health Benefit Assessment of Novel Ingredients and Diets
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Health Benefit Assessment of Novel Ingredients and Diets

A Special Issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643) belonging to the section "Nutrition Methodology & Assessment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2026) | Viewed by 5342

Editors

Prof. Dr. Alejandro Cifuentes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Foodomics, Institute of Food Science Research, CIAL, CSIC, Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Interests: foodomics; metabolomics; food science; advanced analytical techniques; food and health; mass spectrometry
Dr. Gloria Domínguez-Rodríguez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Foodomics, Institute of Food Science Research, CIAL, CSIC, Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Interests: simulation of gastrointestinal digestion; simulation of intestinal absorption; blood–brain barrier permeability; model animals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, ‘Health Benefit Assessment of Novel Ingredients and Diets’, aims to cover several key topics related to the impact of innovative food components and dietary patterns on human health. The main topics likely include the following: 1. The characterization of novel bioactive compounds with demonstrated relevance to human health through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, or lipid-lowering mechanisms. 2. The development and application of physiologically relevant in vitro models to assess human digestion, absorption, metabolism, and health effects, such as static (e.g., INFOGEST) and dynamic (e.g., SHIME, TIM-1) in vitro digestion models, as well as intestinal cell models (e.g., Caco-2 cell line) for assessing nutrient transport and metabolisms. 3. Investigations to increase the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of bioactive compounds in humans, including encapsulation and delivery technologies (e.g., nanoencapsulation, liposomes) with demonstrated physiological relevance. 4. The utilization of microfluidic systems, such as lab-on-a-chip platforms to evaluate the nutritional impact of novel diets and ingredients. Emphasis should be placed on applications that provide insights into human physiology or disease prevention. 5. Applications of advanced in vivo and ex vivo models, including humanized animal models, organoids, and precision-cut tissue cultures, to evaluate the physiological effects of novel dietary compounds and their role in human health, particularly concerning gut microbiota, metabolic function, and chronic disease contexts.

Prof. Dr. Alejandro Cifuentes
Dr. Gloria Domínguez-Rodríguez
Guest Editors

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-anonymized 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

  • microfluidic systems
  • organ-on-chip digestion models
  • static digestion
  • dynamic digestion
  • in vivo models
  • humanized animal models
  • ex vivo tissue
  • metabolism
  • transport
  • encapsulation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1623 KB  
Article
Sprouted Fenugreek-Enriched Wheat Flatbread Attenuates Postprandial Glycemic and Insulinemic Responses in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Crossover Pilot Study
by Sumaira Saeed, Tariq Ismail, Ahmad Mujtaba Noman, Muhammad Ibrahim, Maria Liccardo and Paola Stiuso
Nutrients 2026, 18(17), 2811; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18172811 - 27 Aug 2026
Viewed by 260
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The development of functional staple foods with improved metabolic properties represents a practical dietary strategy for the prevention of type 2 diabetes. This study investigated the effects of incorporating sprouted fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) into wheat-based flatbread (chapatti) on postprandial glycemic [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The development of functional staple foods with improved metabolic properties represents a practical dietary strategy for the prevention of type 2 diabetes. This study investigated the effects of incorporating sprouted fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) into wheat-based flatbread (chapatti) on postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses in healthy adults. Methodology: Wheat (cv. Galaxy 2013) and fenugreek seeds were germinated for up to 96 h and analyzed for nutritional composition and antioxidant activity. Composite flours containing 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% sprouted fenugreek were formulated and evaluated for sensory acceptability. Eighteen healthy participants (18–25 years; BMI 21–22.5 kg/m2) consumed chapattis containing 7.5% sprouted fenugreek or white flour as a control in a randomized crossover design. Blood glucose and serum insulin were measured at 0, 30, 60, and 120 min postprandially. Results: Sprouting significantly increased protein, dietary fiber, and antioxidant capacity in both wheat and fenugreek (p < 0.001). Total phenolic content in wheat increased from 55.82 to 110.17 mg GAE/100 g after 96 h of germination, accompanied by a significant rise in DPPH radical scavenging activity. The formulation containing 7.5% sprouted fenugreek showed the highest sensory acceptability (7.52/9). Fenugreek-supplemented chapattis significantly reduced postprandial glucose and insulin responses (p < 0.05) compared with control. Conclusion: Incorporation of 7.5% sprouted fenugreek into wheat flatbread improves nutritional quality while attenuating glycemic and insulinemic responses, suggesting a practical dietary strategy for metabolic health and diabetes prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Benefit Assessment of Novel Ingredients and Diets)
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12 pages, 451 KB  
Article
Skin Carotenoid Score as a Potential Early Biomarker of Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Adolescents
by Giuseppina Augimeri, Luca Gelsomino, Marco Germanò, Giovanni Tripepi, Daniela Bonofiglio and Renzo Bonofiglio
Nutrients 2026, 18(2), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18020337 - 21 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1423
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents represents a major global health concern. Adolescent weight gain frequently shows additional metabolic risk factors, including insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, whose co-occurrence defines the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Adherence to a healthy dietary [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents represents a major global health concern. Adolescent weight gain frequently shows additional metabolic risk factors, including insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, whose co-occurrence defines the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean Diet (MD), has been shown to reduce the metabolic risk among adolescents. Skin carotenoid score has emerged as an objective and non-invasive indicator of MD adherence; however, its relationship with a cluster of metabolic parameters which characterize the MetS, including the triglyceride levels, diastolic blood pressure, and waist circumference, remains poorly explored. Here, we investigated the role of skin carotenoid score as an early biomarker of metabolic syndrome risk in adolescents. Methods: A sample of 634 healthy adolescents underwent anthropometric and clinical measurements, blood sample collection, and evaluation of the MD adherence by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents (KIDMED) questionnaire and the skin carotenoid levels by the Veggie Meter®. Student’s t-test, chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and the multivariable linear regression model were used for analyses. Results: Participants had a mean BMI Z-score of 0.02 ± 1.01; the metabolic serum profile and the cardiovascular parameters were within the normal range. Mean KIDMED and skin carotenoid scores were 5.21 ± 2.56 and 357 ± 96.58, respectively. Skin carotenoids were positively associated with height (p = 0.02), while they were inversely associated with weight (p = 0.008), BMI Z-score (p < 0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.013), and triglycerides (p = 0.003). Moreover, the carotenoid score was positively associated with male gender and KIDMED score and negatively associated with waist circumference and triglyceride levels in multivariable regression analyses. Conclusions: Our results suggested the potential application of skin carotenoid score as a complementary biomarker for the early identification of adolescents at increased metabolic risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Benefit Assessment of Novel Ingredients and Diets)
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17 pages, 325 KB  
Article
A New Resistant Starch Material Obtained from Faba Beans (Vicia faba L. Creole): Potential Modulation of the Diabetic Condition in Diabetic Wistar Rat Model
by Teodoro Suárez-Diéguez, Mariza Olvera Nájera, Mariana Silva, Guadalupe López-Rodríguez, José Alberto Ariza-Ortega, Aurora García-Tejedor and Juan Antonio Nieto
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3807; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233807 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1368
Abstract
Background: Resistant starch, and specially retrograded starches (RS), have been suggested as useful biological molecules to improve the glucose management in diabetic conditions. However, the influence of the botanical origin in the RS biological capacities make necessary its evaluation, where RS from legumes [...] Read more.
Background: Resistant starch, and specially retrograded starches (RS), have been suggested as useful biological molecules to improve the glucose management in diabetic conditions. However, the influence of the botanical origin in the RS biological capacities make necessary its evaluation, where RS from legumes have been paid less attention compared to other sources as cereals. Objectives: A RS product obtained from creole Faba beans (Vicia faba L. creole), was evaluated for the first time as a material capable of improving glucose homeostasis in diabetic conditions. Methods: The RS ingredient investigated (with a reduced digestibility of 50%) was tested in a Wistar rat model with induced diabetes, fed with a 15 or 30% replacement of RS ingredient in the diet. Diverse nutritional and biomarkers were analysed. Results: As a result of the reduced digestibility of the RS ingredient, diabetic animals fed with RS replacement (15% or 30%) showed attenuated postprandial hyperglycemia responses, reducing the hyperglycemic condition close to 29% compared to non-treated diabetic animals (24.56 ± 7.50 and 25.02 ± 3.54 vs. 34.65 ± 1.89 mmol/L, respectively). In addition, fasting serum glucose levels were significantly reduced (22%). Other biochemical parameters associated with glucose metabolism, such as glycosylated hemoglobin and AGEs levels, also improved. Furthermore, significant improvements in nutritional parameters (such as weight gain) and a lower insulin resistance index were determined. In contrast, no clear effects were observed in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress biomarkers in the treated group. Conclusions: The results of this research suggest that the retrograded starch from creole beans evaluated could be a potential functional food ingredient capable of enhancing glucose homeostasis in diabetic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Benefit Assessment of Novel Ingredients and Diets)
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15 pages, 3539 KB  
Article
Schisandra chinensis Bee Pollen Extract Alleviates Obesity by Modulating Gut Microbiota-Driven Bile Acid Metabolism
by Xin An, Jingxuan Zhang, Runwen Chou, Cheng Zhao, Haoan Zhao, Wei Cao and Ni Cheng
Nutrients 2025, 17(22), 3597; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223597 - 18 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1479
Abstract
Background: Bee pollen is a uniquely complete nutritional product that has shown promise in alleviating obesity. While existing research has largely focused on the role of gut microbiota in obesity, the mechanisms by which bee pollen influences bile acid (BA) metabolism via microbial [...] Read more.
Background: Bee pollen is a uniquely complete nutritional product that has shown promise in alleviating obesity. While existing research has largely focused on the role of gut microbiota in obesity, the mechanisms by which bee pollen influences bile acid (BA) metabolism via microbial regulation remain poorly understood. Methods: This study hypothesized that Schisandra chinensis bee pollen extract (SCPE) could mitigate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity by regulating BA metabolism. Results: In a 12-week animal experiment, SCPE supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain, lipid accumulation, and adipocyte hypertrophy, while improving insulin sensitivity and relieving hepatic oxidative stress. These benefits were attributed to an increased relative abundance of bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-producing microbes, including Bacteroides, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, and Akkermansia, which modulated BA metabolism by improving the expression of BA metabolism-related genes and reducing the concentrations of various types of BAs. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which SCPE alleviates obesity through the gut microbiota-BA axis and support the potential of bee pollen as a functional food for obesity management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Benefit Assessment of Novel Ingredients and Diets)
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