Dietary Habits in Liver Health and Disease: Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Abstract submission deadline

31 October 2026

Manuscript submission deadline

31 December 2026

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The liver is a very complex organ that performs numerous vital functions, many of which cannot yet be replaced by the most advanced therapeutic technologies. Liver health and nutrition are closely linked, and the relationship between dietary intake and liver disease has been extensively studied in recent years. Despite its importance in the development and severity of many medical problems, insufficient attention has been paid to nutrition. Nutrition plays an important role not only in the etiology but also in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. While an extreme nutritional state (malnutrition or obesity) can lead to liver dysfunction, a dysfunctional liver can lead to changes in the metabolism of macro- and micronutrients. Evidence from animal and human studies supports the harmful effects of consuming higher-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, which can lead to liver dysfunction that impacts overall health. Conversely, nutritional therapy plays an important role in the treatment of liver disease.

It is widely recognized that chronic liver diseases, particularly liver cirrhosis, can contribute to malnutrition. Additionally, malnutrition has been identified as a contributing factor to the progression of these liver diseases. Based on this evidence, the aim of this Topic is to explore several aspects of nutrition and liver health and disease in preclinical or clinical approaches.

We welcome original research articles (including basic science and human and animal studies) that address the impact of dietary habits on liver health and disease. We encourage submissions that highlight the interface between diet and microcirculation, a recognized significant mediator of chronic liver disease. We welcome submissions of original research articles, review articles, mini-reviews, narrative and systematic reviews, and meta-analyses and case reports related to, but not limited to, the following subtopics:

• Interdisciplinary and translational research and clinical application of nutritional interventions
• The contribution of nutrition to tissue/organ homeostasis
• The interrelationship between genetic factors and nutrition
• Dietary patterns and dysbiosis
• Changes in microcirculatory blood flow
• Endothelial function and damage
• Dietary interventions targeting the conditions described above
• Multi-omics-based methods for the diagnosis and management of nutritional status
• New techniques and advances in technology to shed light on the role of dietary habits in liver health and disease

Dr. Evelyn Nunes Goulart Da Silva Pereira
Prof. Dr. Rosane Härter Griep
Dr. Anissa Daliry
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Dietetics dietetics	1.8	-	2022	25.8 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Diseases diseases	3.7	4.2	2013	21.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
International Journal of Molecular Sciences ijms	5.6	10.0	2000	17.5 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Metabolites metabolites	4.5	8.1	2011	12.6 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Nutrients nutrients	5.8	10.2	2009	15.8 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Obesities obesities	1.6	1.9	2021	21.6 Days	CHF 1200	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Dietetics Nutrients Obesities Diseases IJMS Metabolites

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13 pages, 1043 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Spousal Obesity Concordance in Male-Headed Cohabiting Couples in Peru: A Cross-Sectional DHS Analysis

by Holly E. Delgado-Toro, Jhonatan Cusma-Regalado, Jhosmer Ballena-Caicedo, Kevin Cusma-Regalado, Fiorella E. Zuzunaga-Montoya and Víctor Juan Vera-Ponce

Obesities 2026, 6(4), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/obesities6040050 - 9 Jul 2026

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Abstract

Obesity is a major public health problem in Peru. Cohabiting couples may show obesity clustering because of partner selection, shared household routines, and broader structural exposures. This study aimed to describe spousal similarity in body mass index (BMI) and obesity status among DHS-eligible [...] Read more.

Obesity is a major public health problem in Peru. Cohabiting couples may show obesity clustering because of partner selection, shared household routines, and broader structural exposures. This study aimed to describe spousal similarity in body mass index (BMI) and obesity status among DHS-eligible male-headed cohabiting couples in Peru and to examine variation across sociodemographic subgroups. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of DHS 2019 and 2021–2024, excluding 2020. The study included heterosexual cohabiting couples in which the man was the household head aged ≥ 18 years and the woman was the spouse/partner aged 15–49 years, with anthropometric measurements available for both. BMI was calculated from measured weight and height; obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m². We accounted for the complex survey design and used Pearson correlations, weighted kappa statistics, and Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate crude and exploratory adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for obesity clustering. The final analytic sample included 27,604 couples. Obesity prevalence was 25.8% in husbands and 33.3% in wives. Overall, 52.1% of couples had neither spouse with obesity, 14.5% had only the husband with obesity, 22.0% had only the wife with obesity, and 11.3% had obesity in both spouses. BMI correlation between spouses was r = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.18–0.21), the weighted kappa for BMI categories was 0.17, and the crude PR for wife obesity given husband obesity was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.39–1.56). In exploratory adjusted models, the PR for wife obesity given husband obesity was 1.34 (95% CI: 1.26–1.41), and the reverse PR for husband obesity given wife obesity was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.31–1.49). Observed concordance was somewhat stronger in urban, coastal, and wealthier subgroups but remained modest overall. Among DHS-eligible heterosexual cohabiting couples in Peru, restricted to male household heads and female spouses/partners aged 15–49 years, obesity showed positive but modest spousal concordance. These findings support cautious incorporation of couple-level perspectives into obesity surveillance and future research, but they do not establish causal mechanisms or demonstrate the effectiveness of couple-based screening or interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Dietary Habits in Liver Health and Disease: Preclinical and Clinical Studies)

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16 pages, 2232 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Novel Targets for Precision Nutrition: Insulin Resistance and Phenotypic Age Mediate the Protective Effect of Gut Microbiota-Targeted Diet on Metabolic Syndrome

by Xiaodan Li, Jialu Guan, Ying Liu, Shengcong Luo, Youwu Gong, Hongke Jiang and Changzhuan Shao

Obesities 2026, 6(3), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/obesities6030033 - 28 May 2026

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Abstract

Background: The dietary index for gut microbiota (DI-GM) holds promise for improving metabolic status, yet its mechanistic insight into metabolic syndrome (MetS) is unclear. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 20,800 participants in the NHANES (2005–2018). The DI-GM was developed [...] Read more.

Background: The dietary index for gut microbiota (DI-GM) holds promise for improving metabolic status, yet its mechanistic insight into metabolic syndrome (MetS) is unclear. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 20,800 participants in the NHANES (2005–2018). The DI-GM was developed based on dietary patterns, and MetS was defined according to the NCEP-ATP III criteria. Global DI-GM scores came from the Global Dietary Database (164 nations), with MetS burden estimation employing Global Burden of Disease data. We explored mediation by phenotypic age, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and inflammation. Secondary analyses involved subgroup stratification, restricted cubic splines (RCS), sensitivity testing, propensity score matching, and multiple imputations. Results: Globally, higher national DI-GM correlated inversely with metabolic risk factor frequency and major MetS sequelae. NHANES analysis found each one-unit DI-GM rise was associated with an 11% lower MetS likelihood (adjusted OR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.87–0.91). RCS indicated a non-linear exposure–response curve, with prevalence reduction stabilizing above DI-GM = 4.972. Stratification showed significant effect modification by race/ethnicity, education, and income (p-interaction < 0.05). Mediation analysis identified significant roles for phenotypic aging (24.77%) and HOMA-IR (47.98%), but not inflammation (0.54%). Conclusions: A DI-GM-aligned diet correlated with lower MetS prevalence, with insulin sensitivity and phenotypic aging accounting for part of this association. Microbiota-targeted nutrition guidelines for MetS should prioritize metabolic health over anti-inflammation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Dietary Habits in Liver Health and Disease: Preclinical and Clinical Studies)

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24 pages, 12474 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Blood Focused-Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Uncover Non-Linear Risk Association of Inadequate Dietary Choline Intake-Linked Metabolic Stress with MASLD Through Amino Acid Biomarkers, BCAA and MTORC 1/AKT1/IRS1 Mechanistic Mediators: A Nested Case–Control Study

by Chien-Hsien Wu, Ming-Lu Lin, Chao-Yun Wang, Chi-Yang Chang, Fu-Jen Lee, Mei-Ling Cheng, Yu-Shun Lin, Tong-Wei Chen, Yi-Ting Hsiao, Bei-Wen Wang, Chang-Sheng Kuo and Rwei-Fen S. Huang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(10), 4186; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104186 - 8 May 2026

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Abstract

Inadequate choline intake-induced choline metabolic stress (CMS) has been divergently linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), yet underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that CMS modifies plasma-free amino acid (PFAA) signatures to influence MASLD risk. In a nested case–control study of [...] Read more.

Inadequate choline intake-induced choline metabolic stress (CMS) has been divergently linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), yet underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that CMS modifies plasma-free amino acid (PFAA) signatures to influence MASLD risk. In a nested case–control study of 125 participants, dietary choline intake and blood choline metabolites were assessed together with targeted metabolomics and transcriptomic profiling. MASLD was characterized by low choline intake, reduced plasma betaine/choline ratio (Pbcr), elevated homocysteine, increased branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and depleted serine/glycine, achieving strong predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.90). CMS was associated with reduced lymphocytic transcripts involved in BCAA catabolism and altered mTORC1/Akt/IRS1 signaling. Nonlinear Pbcr- and intake-dependent MASLD risk patterns were attenuated after adjustment for genetic–metabolite networks. These findings identify CMS-responsive metabolic mediators supporting precision choline interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Dietary Habits in Liver Health and Disease: Preclinical and Clinical Studies)

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12 pages, 941 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Chronotype and Social Jetlag: Impacts on Nutritional Status and Dietary Intake of University Students

by Lyandra Deluchi Loch, Gabriela Iber Correa, Isabela Fernandes Araújo, Amanda Portugal, Gabriela Datsch Bennemann, Caryna Eurich Mazur, Guilherme Welter Wendt, Lirane Elize Defante Ferreto, Carolina Panis, Camila Elizandra Rossi, Kérley Braga Pereira Bento Casaril, Gisele Arruda, Léia Carolina Lucio, Cleide Viviane Buzanello, Geraldo Emílio Vicentini, Claudiceia Risso Pascotto, Aedra Carla Bufalo Kawassaki, Ana Paula Vieira, Dalila Moter Benvegnú, Franciele Ani Caovilla Follador and Mariana Abe Vicente Cavagnariadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list

Obesities 2026, 6(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/obesities6010003 - 9 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1915

Abstract

The circadian cycle regulates metabolism in response to external stimuli, such as light exposure, sleep schedules, and eating patterns. However, misalignment between internal biological rhythms and social demands can compromise food choices, potentially leading to overweight and obesity. This research aimed to assess [...] Read more.

The circadian cycle regulates metabolism in response to external stimuli, such as light exposure, sleep schedules, and eating patterns. However, misalignment between internal biological rhythms and social demands can compromise food choices, potentially leading to overweight and obesity. This research aimed to assess how a person’s chronotype links to social jet lag (SJL), which in turn would relate to their nutritional status and food consumption patterns as a university student. 617 students from a State University located in the State of Paraná, Brazil, completed a cross-sectional research study that collected sociodemographic information/anthropometrics by means of an online survey. It included self-reported height/weight data and dietary habits. The Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) was utilized to determine each participant’s chronotype classification and SJL calculation. Researchers found that nearly half of the students (49.3%) displayed an Intermediate Chronotype, which is associated with a diet that contained elements of the “Mixed” Diet, meaning there are equal portions of healthy food (Fresh Fruits, Beans, etc.) and unhealthy foods (Sweetened Beverages). The multivariate logistic regression analyses identified age as a significant predictor of obesity risk (OR: 1.15, p < 0.001), while dietary habits such as fruit consumption played a protective role. Additionally, having a breakfast protected them from being classified as obese compared to those who did not eat breakfast (OR = 0.59). Contrary to expectations, late-night supper was not a statistically significant predictor in the adjusted model. Predictors of an Intermediate chronotype included being male and eating morning snacks regularly. The results of this study suggest that students with an intermediate chronotype will predictably have skewed eating patterns, such as skipping breakfast and eating late—both of which affect obesity risks. Nutritional strategies for university students should focus on promoting circadian regularity and optimizing meal timing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Dietary Habits in Liver Health and Disease: Preclinical and Clinical Studies)

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15 pages, 2835 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Global Epidemiology of Smoking and Liver Cancer from 1990 to 2021

by Jinguo Wang, Yang Ma, Aixu Duan and Xiaoming Fan

Diseases 2025, 13(11), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13110356 - 3 Nov 2025

Viewed by 1112

Abstract

Liver cancer is a prevalent and highly malignant tumor worldwide, and smoking has been suggested as a potentially significant risk factor, but this association remains understudied and not widely recognized. This study utilized global epidemiological data (1990–2021) from open access databases, analyzing smoking-related [...] Read more.

Liver cancer is a prevalent and highly malignant tumor worldwide, and smoking has been suggested as a potentially significant risk factor, but this association remains understudied and not widely recognized. This study utilized global epidemiological data (1990–2021) from open access databases, analyzing smoking-related liver cancer burden and trends by age, sex, region, and country using mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-standardized rates (ASRs), with projections for disease burden in 2040. The results show that from 1990 to 2021, the global number of smoking-attributable liver cancer deaths increased (cumulative growth: 67.10%; annual growth rate: 1.63%), while the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) declined. Similarly, global DALYs rose (cumulative growth: 49.5%; annual growth rate: 1.32%), yet age-standardized DALY rates (ASDRs) decreased. Significant disparities were observed across gender, age groups, regions, and countries, with higher burdens in males and in regions such as East Asia. Projections indicate that by 2040, both the ASMR and ASDR for smoking-associated liver cancer will decline significantly, particularly among the male population. In conclusion, although the burden of liver cancer related to smoking is on a downward trend, there are still significant demographic and regional differences. Future efforts should prioritize strengthened public health policies, targeted interventions, and further research into the smoking–liver cancer relationship to enhance prevention and control strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Dietary Habits in Liver Health and Disease: Preclinical and Clinical Studies)

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