About this Research Topic

Background

A wealth of data clearly demonstrate how disorders metabolic and nutritional abnormalities affect musculoskeletal health, leading to frailty and disability, especially in older individuals. Conditions such as the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity are highly associated with the onset or worsening of musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, degeneration of the intervertebral discs, and sarcopenia. For example, hyperglycemia has been shown to cause local accumulation of advanced glycation end products, compromising subchondral bone and chondrocyte function, and to contribute to significant worsening of physical disability in osteoarthritis of the knee, and to increase fracture risk in diabetes. Furthermore, food plays a fundamental role by contributing to the improvement or worsening of several diseases, both metabolic and musculoskeletal, often by exerting a pro- or anti-inflammatory effect. For these reasons, the nutritional approach becomes an important ally to act synergistically with standard therapies in the treatment of these conditions.

Despite the dramatic impact of nutritional issues on musculoskeletal health, the importance of maintaining a healthy or specific diet and good nutritional status in preserving or improving musculoskeletal health is often underestimated, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully clarified, and targeted strategies need to be developed. There is an urgent need to expand the awareness and knowledge about the harmful effects of poor nutrition and diet-related disorders on musculoskeletal health, and the effect of specific dietary interventions on musculoskeletal conditions needs to be explored. The overall goal of this Research Topic is to put the spotlight on the relationship between nutrition and musculoskeletal health.

The scope of this Research Topic is to globalize the research work of scientists studying how nutrition and metabolism can impact the musculoskeletal system. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Effects of diet-related diseases (e.g. type 2 diabetes, obesity, malnutrition) on musculoskeletal health, including impacts of nutrition- and diet-related interventions;
• Association between diet/specific nutrients (e.g., pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory) and musculoskeletal health;
• Mechanisms by which poor nutrition and diet-related diseases affect musculoskeletal health;
• Effects of nutritional interventions on osteoarthritis, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and other musculoskeletal conditions;
• Gut microbiota alterations and musculoskeletal health;
• Associations between eating disorders (e.g. anorexia nervosa) and musculoskeletal outcomes, including impacts of nutrition- and diet-related interventions.

Authors are encouraged to submit original articles, either original research or clinical trials, reviews, mini reviews, or short communications.

Keywords: Metabolism, diet, nutrients, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, musculoskeletal system, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, inflammation, cytokines, chemokines

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