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Functional Foods and Sustainable Health
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Functional Foods and Sustainable Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2024) | Viewed by 10233

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amalia Yanni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 17671 Athens, Greece
Interests: food bioactive compounds; functional foods design and development; foods, nutrition and metabolic disorders
Prof. Dr. Yiannis Kourkoutas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
Interests: food microbiome; functional foods; nutrition; fermentation; antimicrobials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Human wellbeing is inseparably linked with a healthy lifestyle and high-quality health care. The prevention and management of chronic noncommunicable diseases is an established goal for sustainable health. Dietary habits constitute a modifiable factor of pivotal importance and a balanced dietary pattern incorporating functional foods can significantly contribute to the achievement of sustainable health. Functional foods have gained increasing interest from consumers due to their promising positive effects on one or more target functions in the body, while the rapidly growing market is attracting great interest from the food industry.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present state-of-the-art contributions discussing the role of functional foods in health sustainability. High-quality original research articles and up-to-date review papers regarding the use of functional foods for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and healthy aging, such as (but not limited to) diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, cognitive function, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, are within the scope of this issue. Studies investigating the underlying mechanisms connecting functional foods/ingredients with beneficial effects on target body functions are encouraged. Papers regarding the production of functional foods with innovative technologies and minimizing environmental impact are also very welcome.

Dr. Amalia Yanni
Prof. Dr. Yiannis Kourkoutas 
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

  • human wellbeing
  • healthy lifestyle
  • healthy ageing
  • functional food ingredients
  • food bioactives
  • noncommunicable diseases
  • metabolic disorders
  • cognitive function
  • sustainability

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 5727 KiB  
Article
Metabolite Profiling, Biological and Molecular Analyses Validate the Nutraceutical Potential of Green Seaweed Acrosiphonia orientalis for Human Health
by Bhakti Tanna, Sonam Yadav, Manish Kumar Patel and Avinash Mishra
Nutrients 2024, 16(8), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16081222 - 19 Apr 2024
Viewed by 271
Abstract
Seaweeds have proven to be nutrient-dense and are rich in antioxidants, like phenolics, flavonoids, and other essential metabolites that help to provide their medicinal benefits. Non-targeted metabolite profiling of the tropical green seaweed Acrosiphonia orientalis showed the presence of numerous groups of [...] Read more.
Seaweeds have proven to be nutrient-dense and are rich in antioxidants, like phenolics, flavonoids, and other essential metabolites that help to provide their medicinal benefits. Non-targeted metabolite profiling of the tropical green seaweed Acrosiphonia orientalis showed the presence of numerous groups of contents, including sugars, essential amino acids, and fatty acids. Targeted metabolite profiling using HPLC identified 17 amino acids. The extract exhibited a very low half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) dosage for HeLa and Huh-7 cell lines, indicating a high likelihood of anticancer properties. A significant positive correlation was found between biological activities, such as antioxidation, scavenging, and reducing power with the phenolic and flavonoid contents. The extract revealed augmentation of proliferation in selected cervical cells, as it upregulated p53 1.3-fold, and downregulated important cancerous genes such as Cas-3 and DNMT 12- and 8-fold, respectively. An approximate 55-fold downregulation was observed in selected hepatic cell lines. Microarray analysis of hepatic cells indicated 0.27% and 0.07% upregulation of coding and non-coding genes, respectively, and 0.41% and 0.13% downregulation of coding and non-coding genes, respectively. As a consequence, it can be said that A. orientalis has possible medicinal use, such as anticancer activity, and therefore may be an intriguing food component that has potential as a regular dietary supplement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health)
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19 pages, 3963 KiB  
Article
Gut–Joint Axis: Impact of Bifidobacterial Cell Wall Lipoproteins on Arthritis Development
by Frank Piva, Philippe Gervois, Youness Karrout, Famara Sané and Marie-Bénédicte Romond
Nutrients 2023, 15(23), 4861; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234861 - 21 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1493
Abstract
Gut microbiota affect progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study aims at investigating the protective potential of Bifidobacterium longum cell wall lipoproteins (Lpps) shown to modulate the intestinal microbiome and prevent osteoarthritis. Arthritis was induced by collagen (CIA) or anti-collagen antibodies (CAIA) [...] Read more.
Gut microbiota affect progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study aims at investigating the protective potential of Bifidobacterium longum cell wall lipoproteins (Lpps) shown to modulate the intestinal microbiome and prevent osteoarthritis. Arthritis was induced by collagen (CIA) or anti-collagen antibodies (CAIA) injection. Intake of 0.5 mg of Lpps/L, but not 0.25 and 1 mg of Lpps/L, significantly alleviated RA symptoms in CIA DBA/1OOaHsd mice. The arthritis index (AI) was also reduced in CAIA mice. In the CIA-protected group, colon Ligilactobacillus murinus, caecal Lactobacillus johnsonii and spleen weight correlated with AI, whereas the reverse was observed with splenic CD11c+ dendritic cells (cDCs). The unprotected CIA Lpps group harbored higher cecal and colon E. coli and lower caecal L. murinus. Lpps administration to CAIA mice after arthritis induction led to lower colon E. plexicaudatum counts. Splenocytes from CIA-protected mice triggered by LPS secreted higher Il-10 than control ones. However, a higher IL-10 response was not elicited in gnotobiotic RA mice splenocytes with lower cDCs’ recruitment. Labeled bacteria with the Lpps signal were detected in CIA mice bone marrow (BM) cDCs 5 and 16 h post-gavage but not in Peyer’s patches and the spleen. In vitro uptake of Lpps by primary BM and thymus cells was observed within 24 h. An FACS analysis detected the Lpps signal in the plasmacytoid cell compartment but not in cDCs. In conclusion, Lpps dosing is critical for preventing arthritis progression and appropriately modulating the microbiome. Our results also highlight the possible triggering of the immune system by Lpps. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health)
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17 pages, 2096 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Se- and Zn-Enriched Mycelium of Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler as a Dietary Supplement with Immunostimulatory Activity
by Małgorzata Kałucka, Aleksander Roszczyk, Marzenna Klimaszewska, Beata Kaleta, Ewelina Drelich, Anna Błażewicz, Sandra Górska-Jakubowska, Eliza Malinowska, Marek Król, Aleksandra Maria Prus, Katarzyna Trześniowska, Aleksandra Wołczyńska, Przemysław Dorożyński, Radosław Zagożdżon and Jadwiga Turło
Nutrients 2023, 15(18), 4015; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15184015 - 16 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1031
Abstract
Mycelial cultures of Lentinula edodes, an edible and medicinal mushroom, have been used in our previous research to obtain selenium-containing immunomodulatory preparations. Our current attempts to obtain a new preparation containing both selenium and zinc, two micronutrients necessary for the functioning of [...] Read more.
Mycelial cultures of Lentinula edodes, an edible and medicinal mushroom, have been used in our previous research to obtain selenium-containing immunomodulatory preparations. Our current attempts to obtain a new preparation containing both selenium and zinc, two micronutrients necessary for the functioning of the immune system, extended our interest in the simultaneous accumulation of these elements by mycelia growing in media enriched with selenite and zinc(II) ions. Subsequently, we have studied the effects of new L. edodes mycelium water extracts with different concentrations of selenium and zinc on the activation of T cell fraction in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Flow cytometry analysis was used to measure the expression of activation markers on human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells stimulated by anti-CD3 and anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies (Abs). It was demonstrated that statistically significant changes were observed for PD-1 and CD25 antigens on CD8+ T cells. The selenium and zinc content in the examined preparations modified the immunomodulatory activity of mycelial polysaccharides; however, the mechanisms of action of various active ingredients in the mycelial extracts seem to be different. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health)
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Review

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26 pages, 682 KiB  
Review
Legumes: A Vehicle for Transition to Sustainability
by Amalia E. Yanni, Sofia Iakovidi, Eleni Vasilikopoulou and Vaios T. Karathanos
Nutrients 2024, 16(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16010098 - 27 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2554
Abstract
Legumes are an excellent source of protein and have been used in the human diet for centuries. Consumption of legumes has been linked to several health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and certain types of cancer, [...] Read more.
Legumes are an excellent source of protein and have been used in the human diet for centuries. Consumption of legumes has been linked to several health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and certain types of cancer, while legumes’ high fiber content promotes digestive health. Aside from the positive health benefits, one of the most significant advantages of legumes is the low environmental footprint of their cultivation. They can be grown in a variety of climates and soil types, and they require less water and fertilizer than other crops, making them a sustainable option for farmers. Thanks to their nutritional and physicochemical properties, they are widely used by the food industry since the growing popularity of plant-based diets and the increasing demand for alternatives to meat offers the opportunity to develop legume-based meat substitutes. As the use of legumes as a source of protein becomes widespread, new market opportunities could be created for farmers and food industries, while the reduction in healthcare costs could have a potential economic impact. Achieving widespread adoption of legumes as a sustainable source of protein requires coordinated efforts by individuals, governments, and the private sector. The objective of this narrative review is to present the benefits coming from legume consumption in terms of health and environmental sustainability, and underline the importance of promoting their inclusion in the daily dietary pattern as well as their use as functional ingredients and plant-based alternatives to animal products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health)
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25 pages, 559 KiB  
Review
Health Benefits of Bread Fortification: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials according to the PRISMA Statement
by Urszula Kaim and Zuzanna Sabina Goluch
Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4459; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204459 - 20 Oct 2023
Viewed by 2012
Abstract
Bread is among the most common foods for the world’s population. Therefore, it can be fortified to eliminate deficiencies of nutrients or be a carrier of other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, bringing health benefits to its consumers, thus impacting sustainable [...] Read more.
Bread is among the most common foods for the world’s population. Therefore, it can be fortified to eliminate deficiencies of nutrients or be a carrier of other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, bringing health benefits to its consumers, thus impacting sustainable health. This systematic review aimed to analyze clinical studies on the effects of bread fortification on human health. The study followed the PRISMA guidelines for transparency and utilized databases Scopus, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science to search clinical trials focused on the effects of bread fortification on human health over the entire last decade. The methodological quality of selected studies was assessed using the Jadad scale. As a result, twenty-six studies meet the inclusion criteria. Clinical trials have shown health benefits from consuming bread fortified with vitamins (B9, C, D2, D3), minerals (K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cr, Se), fiber, proteins, and polyphenolic compounds. Conclusions reveal that mandatory fortification aligns with the sustainable development goals. Thus, collaborative partnerships are essential for successful implementation and accessibility, fostering public health advances and progress developing into sustainable health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health)
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32 pages, 2932 KiB  
Review
Antioxidant Activity of Leaf Extracts from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni Exerts Attenuating Effect on Diseased Experimental Rats: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Maria Papaefthimiou, Panagiota I. Kontou, Pantelis G. Bagos and Georgia G. Braliou
Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3325; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153325 - 26 Jul 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1689
Abstract
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is an aromatic plant known for its high sweetening power ascribed to its glycosides. Stevia also contains several bioactive compounds showing antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Since inflammation and oxidative stress play critical roles in the pathogenesis [...] Read more.
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is an aromatic plant known for its high sweetening power ascribed to its glycosides. Stevia also contains several bioactive compounds showing antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Since inflammation and oxidative stress play critical roles in the pathogenesis of many diseases, stevia emerges as a promising natural product that could support human health. In this study we set out to investigate the way stevia affects oxidative stress markers (e.g., SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, MDA) in diseased rats administered stevia leaf extracts or glycosides. To this end, we performed an inclusive literature search, following PRISMA guidelines, and recruited multivariate meta-analysis and meta-regression to synthesize all available data on experimental animal models encountering (a) healthy, (b) diseased, and (c) stevia-treated diseased rats. From the 184 articles initially retrieved, 24 satisfied the eligibility criteria, containing 104 studies. Our results demonstrate that regardless of the assay employed, stevia leaf extracts restored all oxidative stress markers to a higher extent compared to pure glycosides. Meta-regression analysis revealed that results from SOD, CAT, GSH, and TAC assays are not statistically significantly different (p = 0.184) and can be combined in meta-analysis. Organic extracts from stevia leaves showed more robust antioxidant properties compared to aqueous or hydroalcoholic ones. The restoration of oxidative markers ranged from 65% to 85% and was exhibited in all tested tissues. Rats with diabetes mellitus were found to have the highest restorative response to stevia leaf extract administration. Our results suggest that stevia leaf extract can act protectively against various diseases through its antioxidant properties. However, which of each of the multitude of stevia compounds contribute to this effect, and to what extent, awaits further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Sustainable Health)
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