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Fermented Foods and Health Modulation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 April 2026 | Viewed by 1408

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fermented foods, as long-standing staples of traditional diets worldwide, have emerged as a pivotal focus in nutritional and biomedical research. Beyond their roles in food preservation and flavor enhancement, a growing body of evidence is shedding light into their profound impacts on health, driven by their bioactive components (e.g., bioactive peptides, short-chain fatty acids) and inherent probiotics. Unlike dietary interventions that target a single endpoint, fermented foods act holistically: they modulate the gut microbiome, regulate immune function, fine-tune metabolic processes, support gastrointestinal barrier integrity, and even confer benefits to skin and oral health—all of which are critical for disease prevention and systemic homeostasis maintenance.

This Special Issue seeks cutting-edge research that include the following: the mechanisms underlying the interactions between fermented food components and the gut microbiome, immune system, metabolic organs, skin, or nervous system; and the effects of fermented foods on conditions such as chronic diseases (type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity), intestinal disorders (inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome), hyperuricemia/gout, neurological conditions (Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, depression), dermatological issues (atopic dermatitis), oral health concerns, and immune-related disorders.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Foods.

Prof. Dr. Xuegang Luo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fermented foods
  • health modulation
  • gut microbiome
  • bioactive components
  • bioactive peptides
  • short-chain fatty acids
  • probiotics
  • chronic diseases
  • type 2 diabetes
  • cardiovascular disease
  • obesity
  • intestinal disorders
  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • hyperuricemia
  • gout
  • neurological conditions
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • dermatological issues
  • atopic dermatitis
  • oral health
  • immune-related disorders
  • gastrointestinal barrier integrity

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 8725 KB  
Article
Postbiotics from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IOB820 Combat Obesity in HFD Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Enhancing SCFA Production
by Xiaomin Feng, Hanlu Li, Jianxia Tian, Xuemei Han, Wu Liang, Feiliang Zhong and Xuegang Luo
Nutrients 2025, 17(22), 3525; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223525 - 11 Nov 2025
Viewed by 563
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate whether Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) IOB820 and its postbiotics can combat high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, improve metabolic parameters, and modulate gut microbiota and systemic inflammation in a mouse model. Methods: Seventy 4-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into [...] Read more.
Aims: To evaluate whether Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) IOB820 and its postbiotics can combat high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, improve metabolic parameters, and modulate gut microbiota and systemic inflammation in a mouse model. Methods: Seventy 4-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into a normal diet group, an HFD control group, two postbiotic dose groups, two live bacteria dose groups, and an orlistat control group. After 10 weeks of intervention with live L. rhamnosus IOB820 or its postbiotics, body weight, metabolic parameters (blood glucose, lipid profile, hepatic steatosis), pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10), gut microbiota composition (α, β diversity and taxonomic shifts), and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels were assessed. Results: Both live L. rhamnosus IOB820 and its postbiotics significantly alleviated HFD-induced weight gain and improved metabolic outcomes. The treatments also reduced systemic inflammation, as indicated by decreased levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β and elevated IL-10. These effects were accompanied by restoration of gut microbial diversity, enrichment of beneficial taxa, and increased fecal SCFA concentrations. Conclusions: L. rhamnosus IOB820 and its postbiotics effectively mitigate obesity and related metabolic disturbances in HFD-fed mice. Their beneficial effects are likely mediated through modulation of gut microbiota composition and enhancement of SCFA-driven anti-inflammatory responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fermented Foods and Health Modulation)
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17 pages, 21452 KB  
Article
Limosilactobacillus fermentum IOB802 Protects Against Blue Light-Induced Retinopathy via Gut Microbiota Modulation
by Chen Liu, Yuqi Zhao, Jia Li, Shiqi Gao, Jin Cao, Na Jing, Xuemei Han, Hongpeng He, Wu Liang and Nan Wang
Nutrients 2025, 17(22), 3517; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223517 - 11 Nov 2025
Viewed by 631
Abstract
Background: Blue light-induced retinal photodamage represents a growing public health concern globally. Lactic acid bacteria and their bioactive metabolites represent a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating such damage. Methods: This study evaluated the protective efficacy of Limosilactobacillus fermentum IOB802 and Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. [...] Read more.
Background: Blue light-induced retinal photodamage represents a growing public health concern globally. Lactic acid bacteria and their bioactive metabolites represent a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating such damage. Methods: This study evaluated the protective efficacy of Limosilactobacillus fermentum IOB802 and Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum IOB602 against blue light-induced retinal injury using both in vitro and in vivo models. Results: In ARPE-19 cells exposed to blue light, treatment with postbiotics from IOB802 and IOB602 significantly restored cell viability (p < 0.05), enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT, p < 0.05), and reduced inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and VEGF, p < 0.05). Subsequent validation in a murine blue light-induced retinal damage model demonstrated that IOB802 notably preserved retinal architecture, upregulated antioxidant defenses, and promoted the expression of tight junction proteins. Mechanistically, IOB802 suppressed inflammation by inhibiting the phosphorylation of the IκBα/NF-κB pathway. Through 16S rDNA sequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiling, IOB802 was further shown to restore gut microbial diversity, increase beneficial bacteria, including Lachnospiraceae, Rikenellaceae, and Bacteroidaceae (p < 0.05), and elevate concentrations of key SCFAs (butyrate, acetate, and propionate; p < 0.05), underscoring the role of the gut–retina axis in mediating retinal protection. Conclusions: In summary, IOB802 and its postbiotics alleviate blue light-induced retinopathy through antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and microbiota-modulating mechanisms, offering novel insights into microbiome-based interventions for retinal diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fermented Foods and Health Modulation)
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