About this Research Topic

Background

The global and alarming increase in the incidence of metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the related burden of morbidity and mortality highlight an urgent need for improved preventive and therapeutic strategies. Oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, central adiposity, are the main and intertwined risk factors for these diseases. Various drugs are used for the treatment of metabolic complications but can incur long-term costs as well as undesirable side effects. Alternative treatments and approaches are constantly being sought, including a healthy balanced diet and intake of specific nutrients with nutraceutical properties. Indeed, the intake of plant-derived foods and beverages rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds has been found to elicit protection against chronic diseases including cancer, CVD and type 2 diabetes.

Dietary antioxidants are reducing agents which inhibit the oxidation of other molecules and are represented by molecules such as flavonoids, arginine, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, resveratrol and selenium. They can be ingested in the normal diet, since they are found in many food sources. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that most of these dietary antioxidants exhibit a wide range of biological effects in order to protect the human body against metabolic diseases. However, the true impact of these bioactives and their mechanisms of action are still not completely elucidated.

This Research Topic is therefore focused on recent advances in the research and knowledge of the health benefits of dietary antioxidants against metabolic diseases as well as how they can potentially be utilized as an alternative strategy for the prevention and management of these diseases.

We welcome original research articles and review articles related, but not limited to:

1. Animal and clinical studies on the effects of dietary antioxidants in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases.

2. Mechanistic aspects of dietary antioxidant effects, including their role in RNA and protein expression, epigenetics, influencing metabolite profiles, as well as their interaction with genetic background and host microbiome.

3. Bioavailability, tolerability, stability and safety of dietary antioxidants.

Keywords: Antioxidants, Metabolic Diseases, Cardiovascular Disease, Obesity, Host Microbiome

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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