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Metabolites
Special Issues
Diet, Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Health
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Diet, Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Health

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 November 2025) | Viewed by 4062

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hui Han

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Precision Livestock and Nutrition Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
Interests: gut microbiota; dysbiosis; gut health; metabolism; metabolites; nutrition
Prof. Dr. Jing Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Livestock and Poultry Products of Hunan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Interests: maternal and offspring nutrition; intestinal development and health; precision feeding techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The intestinal tracts of animals harbor complex and dynamic microorganisms known as the gut microbiota, which have emerged as a key player in regulating various physiological processes, including digestion, metabolism, and immunity. Both long- and short-term diets are considered the major determinates of gut microbiota, as ingested nutrients interact with and determine the resident microbial community and function. In contrast, gut microbiota exert direct effects on the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of food. Consequently, diet–microbiota interactions play an important role in host metabolism and health. The scope of this Special Issue, titled “Diet, Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Health”, is devoted to original papers and literature reviews relevant to the effects of diet–microbiota interactions in host metabolism, as well as nutritional strategies targeting microbiota for the prevention and treatments of metabolic diseases.

Dr. Hui Han
Prof. Dr. Jing Wang
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2700 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

  • diet
  • nutrition
  • gut microbiota
  • metabolites
  • metabolism

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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20 pages, 4435 KB  
Article
Impact of a Lifestyle Intervention on Gut Microbiome Composition: A Quasi-Controlled Before-and-After Analysis
by Fatma Shehata, Karen M. Dwyer, Michael Axtens, Sean L. McGee and Leni R. Rivera
Metabolites 2025, 15(11), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15110692 - 24 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1800
Abstract
Background: The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbiota that plays a vital role in metabolic health. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS), a growing health concern characterized by obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, all of which [...] Read more.
Background: The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbiota that plays a vital role in metabolic health. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS), a growing health concern characterized by obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, all of which are strongly associated with insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. This study aimed to analyze changes in gut microbiome composition and metabolic parameters in individuals with MetS following a 3-month shared medical appointment program driven by a patient-centered agenda with an emphasis on lifestyle pillars of diet, activity, sleep, and stress management. Methods: Thirty-six individuals with MetS were recruited. Of these, 14 completed a structured metabolic health program with facilitated group appointments, including personalized dietary adjustments, increased physical activity, stress management, and clinical monitoring, while 22 served as an untreated group. Fecal samples were collected for full-length 16S rRNA sequencing. Clinical and biochemical parameters, including body weight, blood pressure, HbA1c, triglycerides, and liver enzymes, were assessed. Microbiome data were analyzed for alpha and beta diversity and differential abundance. Correlations between microbial genera and clinical parameters were evaluated using Spearman correlation. Results: Post-intervention, significant improvements were observed in body weight (p = 0.0061), HbA1c (p = 0.033), triglycerides (p = 0.047), AST (p = 0.016), and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.020). Alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiome showed no significant changes. However, differential abundance analysis revealed increased levels of butyrate-producing and anti-inflammatory genera including Duncaniella, Megasphaera, Pseudoruminococcus, and Oliverpabstia. Conclusions: A 3-month lifestyle intervention in individuals with MetS was associated with marked improvements in metabolic health and beneficial shifts in gut microbiota composition. These findings suggest that even small lifestyle modifications may be a potential therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome management, highlighting the need for personalized approaches in future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Health)
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20 pages, 3234 KB  
Article
SGLT-2 Inhibitors and Metabolic Outcomes: A Primary Data Study Exploring the Microbiota–Diabetes Connection
by Nicoleta Mihaela Mindrescu, Cristian Guja, Viorel Jinga, Sorina Ispas, Antoanela Curici, Rucsandra Elena Danciulescu Miulescu, Andreea Nelson Twakor and Anca Mihaela Pantea Stoian
Metabolites 2025, 15(6), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15060411 - 18 Jun 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1791
Abstract
Background: The gut microbiota plays a critical role in metabolic health and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Alterations in microbial composition may influence glycemic control and systemic inflammation. Materials and methods: In this single-center, randomized study, 60 adults with T2DM receiving metformin were [...] Read more.
Background: The gut microbiota plays a critical role in metabolic health and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Alterations in microbial composition may influence glycemic control and systemic inflammation. Materials and methods: In this single-center, randomized study, 60 adults with T2DM receiving metformin were evaluated biologically and received either empagliflozin or sitagliptin. Demographic, metabolic, and lifestyle data were collected. Gut microbiota profiling was conducted at two timepoints to assess changes in bacterial and fungal taxa. Blood glucose, HbA1c, and inflammation markers were analyzed longitudinally. Results: Both treatment groups showed significant improvements in glycemic control. Median fasting glucose decreased from 132 to 123 mg/dL (p = 0.046) in the sitagliptin group and from 131 to 114 mg/dL (p = 0.025) in the empagliflozin group. Median HbA1c levels declined significantly in both groups, with a greater reduction in the empagliflozin group (p = 0.001 vs. p = 0.049). The microbiota analysis revealed an increase in beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp.) and a decrease in pro-inflammatory taxa (Escherichia coli and Streptococcus spp.). Notably, empagliflozin was associated with a more pronounced microbiota rebalancing and a significant decline in fungal overgrowth (e.g., Candida spp.; p = 0.034). Conclusions: Treatment with sitagliptin and empagliflozin led to improved glycemic outcomes and partial restoration of gut microbial balance in T2DM patients. Empagliflozin showed superior efficacy in modulating both glycemia and dysbiosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet, Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Health)
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