The regular intake of bioactive compounds has been associated with health-promoting properties in humans. Studies have shown that bioactive compounds can delay the onset of noncommunicable diseases. Noncommunicable diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, thus the relevance of bioactive molecules in scientific studies. However, the bioactive properties of these molecules have been associated with their bioaccessibility and bioavailability, as they need to reach the target tissues and organs to exert their beneficial effects. The bioavailability of many bioactive compounds is usually low, and the precise mechanisms of action and the responsible molecules are not fully known. Currently, there are efficient and low-cost methods to evaluate the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds, mainly by simulating the gastrointestinal digestion; these assays can be coupled to the metabolomic and in vitro studies, which could lead to a better understanding of the active molecules and their metabolic fate.
The stability of bioactive molecules after digestion is not yet fully explored. Moreover, bioavailability studies have shown that metabolites found in plasma are mostly conjugated molecules rather than the parental molecule. Thus, scientists still don’t fully know if the active molecules responsible for the antioxidant and other bioactive properties are the parental molecules or their metabolites. Therefore, this research topic aims to collect research work related to systemic studies of bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and the bioactive properties of bioactive molecules. Submissions must include the characterization/identification of the chemical constituents in the food matrix of interest.
This Research Topic welcomes the submission of reviews, original research papers, mini-reviews, and all manuscripts within the article types accepted by the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
The regular intake of bioactive compounds has been associated with health-promoting properties in humans. Studies have shown that bioactive compounds can delay the onset of noncommunicable diseases. Noncommunicable diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, thus the relevance of bioactive molecules in scientific studies. However, the bioactive properties of these molecules have been associated with their bioaccessibility and bioavailability, as they need to reach the target tissues and organs to exert their beneficial effects. The bioavailability of many bioactive compounds is usually low, and the precise mechanisms of action and the responsible molecules are not fully known. Currently, there are efficient and low-cost methods to evaluate the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds, mainly by simulating the gastrointestinal digestion; these assays can be coupled to the metabolomic and in vitro studies, which could lead to a better understanding of the active molecules and their metabolic fate.
The stability of bioactive molecules after digestion is not yet fully explored. Moreover, bioavailability studies have shown that metabolites found in plasma are mostly conjugated molecules rather than the parental molecule. Thus, scientists still don’t fully know if the active molecules responsible for the antioxidant and other bioactive properties are the parental molecules or their metabolites. Therefore, this research topic aims to collect research work related to systemic studies of bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and the bioactive properties of bioactive molecules. Submissions must include the characterization/identification of the chemical constituents in the food matrix of interest.
This Research Topic welcomes the submission of reviews, original research papers, mini-reviews, and all manuscripts within the article types accepted by the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.