About this Research Topic
Functional foods and bioactive food ingredients emerge as potential prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives for metabolic syndrome. They represent versatile tools for addressing different aspects of metabolic syndrome, contributing directly or indirectly to the restoration of the equilibrium of gut microbiota, gut barrier function, energy homeostasis, immune function, and redox balance.
This Research Topic aims to provide an overview of the traditional or innovative functional foods and bioactive ingredients developed to prevent or ameliorate metabolic syndrome. In this sense, we invite authors to submit Original Research Articles, Case Reports, and Review Articles based on, but not limited to, the following themes related to functional foods and metabolic syndrome:
1. Development of novel functional foods or bioactive ingredients produced from natural sources with potential for metabolic syndrome prevention or amelioration.
2. Research concerning in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials of biofunctional activities of functional foods and bioactive ingredients.
3. Identification and characterization of biologically active compounds with the potential to improve metabolic health.
4. The effects of functional foods or bioactive ingredients from natural sources on:
- Key digestive enzymes and other pivotal enzymes of metabolic and inflammatory pathways.
- Oxidative/antioxidant status.
- Gut microbiota composition, gut barrier function, and gut immunity.
- Metabolism and systemic and adipose tissue immune function.
Keywords: Functional foods, Bioactive compounds, Metabolic syndrome, Obesity, Metabolism, Gut microbiome, Adipose tissue, Chronic inflammation, Oxidative stress
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.