nutrients-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Selected Papers from the 4th International Electronic Conference on Nutrients—Plant-Based Nutrition Focusing on Innovation, Health and Sustainable Food Systems

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemicals and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 8851

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy
Interests: obesity; sports nutrition; bariatric surgery; body composition; Mediterranean diet; clinical nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Section of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
2. Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
Interests: immunonutrition; flavonoids; microbiota; oligosaccharides; probiotics; breast milk
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
Interests: diabetes; chronic kidney disease; dietary advanced glycation end products; dietary phosphorus; acid–base metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA
2. Human Performance Laboratory, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
Interests: sports nutrition; exercise; immunology; inflammation; obesity; metabolomics; proteomics; lipid mediators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce a Special Issue inspired by the "4rd International Electronic Conference on Nutrients—Plant-Based Nutrition Focusing on Innovation, Health, and Sustainable Food Systems" (16–18 Oct 2024) virtual online conference focused on the latest developments in nutrient research, particularly innovations aimed at promoting health and sustainability. This Special Issue will serve as a multidisciplinary platform for the publication of cutting-edge research and advancements in nutrient science, emphasizing both macro- and micronutrients.

Scope and Topics

This Special Issue will cover a broad range of topics discussed during the conference, including, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Plant-Based Diets: Health and Well-Being

        Exploration of the health benefits associated with plant-based diets.

        Nutritional adequacy and potential deficiencies in plant-based diets.

        Long-term health outcomes of plant-based nutrition.

  1. Innovation in Dietary Choices

        Novel methodologies for nutrient extraction and bioavailability.

        Development of functional foods and their health benefits.

        Advances in food technology for healthier food options.

  1. Diet and Chronic Disease Management

        The role of the diet in the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

        Clinical trials and epidemiological studies on dietary interventions.

        Mechanistic insights into diet–disease interactions.

  1. Global Nutrition Trends: Shaping Health and Athletic Performance

        Current trends in global nutrition and their impact on health.

        Nutrition strategies for enhancing athletic performance.

        Comparative studies on dietary patterns across different populations.

  1. Behavioral Approaches to Healthier Eating

        Psychological and behavioral strategies to promote healthy eating habits.

        Interventions to reduce dietary risk factors and improve public health.

        The impact of cultural, social, and economic factors on dietary behaviors.

  1. Nutrition Across the Lifespan

        Nutritional requirements and recommendations for different life stages.

        Impact of early nutrition on long-term health outcomes.

        Special considerations for nutrition in aging populations.

Prof. Dr. Mauro Lombardo
Prof. Dr. Francisco J. Pérez-Cano
Prof. Dr. Jaime Uribarri
Prof. Dr. David C. Nieman
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

  • plant-based nutrition
  • plant-based diet
  • diet–disease interactions
  • healthier eating
  • dietary choices

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 (2 papers)

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

Research

21 pages, 2103 KiB  
Article
Reducing Agricultural Land Use Through Plant-Based Diets: A Case Study of Romania
by Ioana Mihaela Balan and Teodor Ioan Trasca
Nutrients 2025, 17(1), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010175 - 2 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2642
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Agricultural systems face increasing global pressure to address sustainability challenges, particularly regarding land use and environmental protection. In Romania, where traditional diets are heavily dependent on animal-based products, optimizing land use is critical. This study investigates the potential of plant-based diets to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Agricultural systems face increasing global pressure to address sustainability challenges, particularly regarding land use and environmental protection. In Romania, where traditional diets are heavily dependent on animal-based products, optimizing land use is critical. This study investigates the potential of plant-based diets to reduce agricultural land use, examining scenarios of partial and complete replacement of animal protein with plant protein sources (soy, peas, and potatoes). Methods: The research modeled three dietary transition scenarios—replacing 33%, 50%, and 100% of animal protein with plant-based protein—using data from the Romanian National Institute of Statistics, the FAO, and international sources. Land use was calculated for each scenario using formulas that take into account protein content and land use intensity for animal and plant protein sources. The simulations quantify the reduction in agricultural land use at the per capita and national levels. Results: The study reveals significant land-saving potential across all scenarios. At the national level, land use reductions ranged from 84,020 hectares (33% replacement) to 1,067,443 hectares (100% replacement). High-impact products such as beef and dairy continue to dominate land use, even in partial replacement scenarios. Conversely, replacing pork and chicken proteins shows substantial savings. The findings highlight the inefficiency of animal-based protein production and the ecological benefits of transitioning to plant-based diets. Conclusions: A dietary shift towards plant-based protein in Romania could achieve significant reductions in agricultural land use, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. This transition not only supports environmental conservation and resource optimization, but also provides public health benefits by reducing consumption of red and processed meat. These results provide a basis for policies to promote sustainable and nutritionally balanced food systems Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2262 KiB  
Article
Effect of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Aerobic Capacity in Female Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Study
by Jekaterina Neteca, Una Veseta, Inga Liepina, Katrina Volgemute, Maija Dzintare and Dmitry Babarykin
Nutrients 2025, 17(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010063 - 27 Dec 2024
Viewed by 5018
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study addresses the growing interest in nutritional supplements that improve athletic performance in endurance sports. Previous research suggests that nitrates in beetroot juice enhance blood vessel dilation and oxygen delivery to muscles. However, the effects of these nitrates on cardiopulmonary performance [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study addresses the growing interest in nutritional supplements that improve athletic performance in endurance sports. Previous research suggests that nitrates in beetroot juice enhance blood vessel dilation and oxygen delivery to muscles. However, the effects of these nitrates on cardiopulmonary performance in female athletes remain underexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of beetroot juice supplementation on aerobic work capacity in female endurance athletes. Methods: A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was conducted to assess aerobic work capacity. Eighteen healthy female endurance athletes (22.9 ± 5.6 years) participated in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (placebo group n = 9), which received a nitrate-free placebo beverage, and the experimental group (beetroot juice group n = 9), which consumed 50 mL of beetroot juice concentrate (~6.2 mmol nitrate) two and a half hours before the second test. Results: The results showed that the beetroot juice group demonstrated significant improvements in minute ventilation (VE), respiratory equivalents (VE/VO2 and VE/VCO2), and heart rate (HR) (p < 0.05). Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) increased by 4.82% in the beetroot juice group (from 35.24 ± 5.07 to 36.94 ± 4.91 mL·min−1·kg−1), whereas a small decrease was observed in the placebo group. Conclusions: These findings indicate that beetroot juice may be an effective ergogenic aid, enhancing oxygen utilization and energy production during exercise in female athletes. In terms of practical applications, beetroot juice could contribute to improved athletic performance and serve as a valuable addition to athletes’ nutritional plans. Future studies should explore the long-term effects, optimal dosages, and duration of supplementation in larger and more diverse populations. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop