Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.2
4.8
Journals
Nutrients
Special Issues
Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation and Metabolism
nutrients-logo
Submit to Nutrients Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation and Metabolism

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 August 2024) | Viewed by 26748

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaohua Pan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: nutrition; immunometabolism; gut microbiota; inflammatory bowel disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yun Ji

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: nutrition; gut microbiota; IBD; NAFLD; intestinal barrier function
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The process of nutrient utilization, which involves digestion, absorption, energy transformation and metabolism, is a key physiological foundation for the optimal functioning of human organs and overall health. The disordered utilization of nutrients increases the risk of nutritional and metabolic diseases, including undernutrition, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus, etc. It is notable that the bioavailability of nutrients is affected by intrinsic human factors, such as age, gender and physical activity, as well as dietary factors such as food matrix and origin, processing conditions, and food additives/dietary supplements. Additionally, accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a key role in the acquisition, storage, and expenditure of energy that is obtained from the diet, with its production of digestive enzymes, metabolic products and its synthesis of micronutrients.

This Special Issue invites authors to share their novel research or comprehensive review, with the aim of advancing our understanding of nutrient digestion, absorption, energy transformation and metabolism. The topics addressed may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Nutritional requirements and the metabolic pattern of particular populations, such as infants, pregnant women, elderly people, and patients with metabolic disorders;
  • The interactions between dietary nutrients, the gut microbiota, and host metabolism and health;
  • The effect and molecular action of the food matrix/origin, processing conditions, and food additives/dietary supplements on nutrient utilization;
  • Strategies to improve nutrient bioavailability and health, such as microcapsule/nano delivery systems, dietary supplements/ probiotics/prebiotics, etc.

Dr. Xiaohua Pan
Dr. Yun Ji
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 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

  • nutrient digestion
  • absorption
  • energy metabolism
  • malnutrition
  • metabolic disorders
  • gut microbiota
  • food additives
  • food processing
  • probiotics

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.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

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

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 1727 KiB  
Article
The Role of Food Matrices Supplemented with Milk Fat Globule Membrane in the Bioaccessibility of Lipid Components and Adaptation of Cellular Lipid Metabolism of Caco-2 Cells
by Victoria Martínez-Sánchez, María Visitación Calvo, Javier Fontecha and Antonio Pérez-Gálvez
Nutrients 2024, 16(16), 2798; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162798 - 22 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1364
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the digestive efficiency of food matrices supplemented with milk fat globule membrane isolated from buttermilk (BM-MFGM), using the INFOGEST in vitro digestion protocol hyphenated with the assessment of the digested material on the lipid profile of the Caco-2 [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the digestive efficiency of food matrices supplemented with milk fat globule membrane isolated from buttermilk (BM-MFGM), using the INFOGEST in vitro digestion protocol hyphenated with the assessment of the digested material on the lipid profile of the Caco-2 cell culture model. First, we examined lipid profiles in food matrices supplemented with BM-MFGM and their subsequent digestion. The results showed distinct lipid profiles in different food matrices and micellar fractions. The presence of BM-MFGM lipids changed the cellular lipid profiles in Caco-2 cell cultures, with diverging contents in cholesteryl esters, triacylglycerides, and neutral lipids depending on the micellar food matrix factor. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed patterns in cellular lipid responses to micellar stimuli, while volcano plots highlighted significant changes in cellular lipid profiles post-treatment. Thus, this study underscores the importance of in vitro digestion protocols in guiding food matrix selection for bioactive ingredient supplementation, elucidating intestinal epithelium responses to digested food stimuli. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation and Metabolism)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 4945 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effect of Thickeners in Enteral Formulas on the Gastric Emptying Rate of Proteins and Carbohydrates Using a Semi-Dynamic Gastric Model
by Motoki Tsukiashi, Takahiro Koyama, Hiroshi Iwamoto, Hirofumi Sonoki and Kazuhiro Miyaji
Nutrients 2024, 16(13), 2115; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132115 - 2 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1596
Abstract
The emptying rate of specific nutrients in enteral formulas is poorly understood, despite the importance of controlling the emptying rate in tube-fed patients. Because of their viscosity, thickened formulas are widely used to avoid gastric reflux and reduce the burden on caregivers. This [...] Read more.
The emptying rate of specific nutrients in enteral formulas is poorly understood, despite the importance of controlling the emptying rate in tube-fed patients. Because of their viscosity, thickened formulas are widely used to avoid gastric reflux and reduce the burden on caregivers. This study examined how thickeners in enteral formulas affected the gastric emptying rates of proteins and carbohydrates. A semi-dynamic gastric model was used to prepare and digest test enteral formulas that contained either no thickeners or agar (0.2%). The amounts of protein and carbohydrates in each emptied aliquot were determined, and the emptying rate was calculated. We found that agar accelerated protein emptying, and an exploratory experiment with agar (0.5%) suggested the possibility of concentration dependence. Additionally, experiments using gellan gum (0.08%), guar gum (0.2%), or carrageenan (0.08%, 0.2%) suggested that protein emptying could vary depending on the thickener type and that carrageenan might slow it. These results could help with the appropriate selection of thickeners added to liquid foods based on the patient’s metabolic profile to manage nutrition, not only for tube-fed patients but also for those with oropharyngeal dysphagia or diabetes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation and Metabolism)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2278 KiB  
Article
Plasma-Induced Changes in the Metabolome Following Vistula Tart Cherry Consumption
by Emma Squires, Ian H. Walshe, William Cheung, Samantha L. Bowerbank, John R. Dean, Jacob Wood, Malachy P. McHugh, Stephan Plattner and Glyn Howatson
Nutrients 2024, 16(7), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16071023 - 1 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2198
Abstract
Evidence suggests that tart cherry (TC) supplementation has beneficial effects on health indices and recovery following strenuous exercise. However, little is known about the mechanisms and how TC might modulate the human metabolome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence [...] Read more.
Evidence suggests that tart cherry (TC) supplementation has beneficial effects on health indices and recovery following strenuous exercise. However, little is known about the mechanisms and how TC might modulate the human metabolome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an acute high- and low-dose of Vistula TC supplementation on the metabolomic profile in humans. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over design, 12 healthy participants (nine male and three female; mean ± SD age, stature, and mass were 29 ± 7 years old, 1.75 ± 0.1 m, and 77.3 ± 10.5 kg, respectively) visited the laboratory on three separate occasions (high dose; HI, low dose; LO, or placebo), separated by at least seven days. After an overnight fast, a baseline venous blood sample was taken, followed by consumption of a standardised breakfast and dose conditions (HI, LO, or placebo). Subsequent blood draws were taken 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 h post consumption. Following sample preparation, an untargeted metabolomics approach was adopted, and the extracts analysed by LCMS/MS. When all time points were collated, a principal component analysis showed a significant difference between the conditions (p < 0.05), such that the placebo trial had homogeneity, and HI showed greater heterogeneity. In a sub-group analysis, cyanidine-3-O-glucoside (C3G), cyanidine-3-O-rutinoside (C3R), and vanillic acid (VA) were detected in plasma and showed significant differences (p < 0.05) following acute consumption of Vistula TC, compared to the placebo group. These results provide evidence that phenolics are bioavailable in plasma and induce shifts in the metabolome following acute Vistula TC consumption. These data could be used to inform future intervention studies where changes in physiological outcomes could be influenced by metabolomic shifts following acute supplementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation and Metabolism)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2754 KiB  
Article
Colon-Targeted Delivery of Indole Acetic Acid Helps Regulate Gut Motility by Activating the AHR Signaling Pathway
by Ying Chen, Ruili Pan, Liya Mei, Peijun Tian, Linlin Wang, Jianxin Zhao, Wei Chen and Gang Wang
Nutrients 2023, 15(19), 4282; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194282 - 8 Oct 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2878
Abstract
Intestinal peristalsis is vital for gastrointestinal physiology and host homeostasis and is frequently dysregulated in intestinal disorders. Gut microbiota can regulate gut motility, especially through the tryptophan metabolism pathway. However, the role of indoles as microbial tryptophan metabolites in colonic function requires further [...] Read more.
Intestinal peristalsis is vital for gastrointestinal physiology and host homeostasis and is frequently dysregulated in intestinal disorders. Gut microbiota can regulate gut motility, especially through the tryptophan metabolism pathway. However, the role of indoles as microbial tryptophan metabolites in colonic function requires further exploration. Here, we show that the delivery of indole acetic acid (IAA) targeting the colon can improve gut motility by activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). To achieve colon-targeted delivery, Eudragit S-100 (ES) and chitosan (CS) were used as drug carriers. After optimisation, IAA-loaded ES-coated CS nanoparticles exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 83% and a drug-loading capacity of 16%. These nanoparticles exhibited pH-dependent characteristics and remained stable in acidic conditions and the upper intestine. In simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) and colonic lumen, considerable amounts of IAA were released after approximately 4 h. Compared with free IAA, the nanoparticles exerted enhanced therapeutic effects on gut movement disorders induced by loperamide. The efficacy of IAA treatment was attributable to the activation of the AHR signalling pathway and increased levels of AHR agonists. Furthermore, the oral administration of IAA-loaded nanoparticles promoted serotonin secretion and maintained the intestinal barrier function. The experimental outcomes demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed colon-specific delivery system and highlight the role of IAA, produced by gut microbiota metabolism, in regulating gut peristalsis through AHR activation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation and Metabolism)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 345 KiB  
Review
Chronic Use of Artificial Sweeteners: Pros and Cons
by Lydia Kossiva, Kostas Kakleas, Foteini Christodouli, Alexandra Soldatou, Spyridon Karanasios and Kyriaki Karavanaki
Nutrients 2024, 16(18), 3162; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16183162 - 19 Sep 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 16434
Abstract
Over the past few decades, the scientific community has been highly concerned about the obesity epidemic. Artificial sweeteners are compounds that mimic the sweet taste of sugar but have no calories or carbohydrates; hence, they are very popular among patients suffering from diabetes [...] Read more.
Over the past few decades, the scientific community has been highly concerned about the obesity epidemic. Artificial sweeteners are compounds that mimic the sweet taste of sugar but have no calories or carbohydrates; hence, they are very popular among patients suffering from diabetes or obesity, aiming to achieve glycemic and/or weight control. There are four different types of sweeteners: artificial, natural, rare sugars, and polyols. Artificial and natural sweeteners are characterized as non-nutritional sweeteners (NNSs) since they do not contain calories. The extended use of sweeteners has been reported to have a favorable impact on body weight and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and on tooth decay prevention. However, there is concern regarding their side effects. Several studies have associated artificial sweeteners’ consumption with the development of insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), gastrointestinal symptoms, and certain types of cancer. The present review focuses on the description of different types of sweeteners and the benefits and possible deleterious effects of the chronic consumption of NNSs on children’s health. Additionally, possible underlying mechanisms of the unfavorable effects of NNSs on human health are described. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, Energy Transformation and Metabolism)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop