The incidence of many inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, allergies, intolerances, and autoimmune disease has increased dramatically in Western countries over the past few decades. The nutritional changes that have occurred in Western countries has determined an increase of consumption of energy-dense, processed foods and a reduction of dietary fibers. Epidemiological studies correlate this ‘Westernized diet’, characterized with high dietary intake of proteins, saturated fats, refined sugars and low fibers, to an increase of obesity, allergies, asthma, and cancer. Furthermore, food additives commonly used during food processing to stabilize shelf-life and improve quality and taste of pre-packaged foods have been identified as a risk factor contributing to the increased occurrence of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. The dietary metabolites influence and intersect with the immune cells specifically in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and can determine chronic mucosal inflammatory conditions, as occurs in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and asthma. Interestingly, nutritional modulation of the immune system has a pivotal role not only within a pathological setting, but also in healthy conditions, acting to reduce or delay the onset of immune-mediated diseases.
Although studies in animal and in cellular models have highlighted the close link between diet and immune homeostasis, molecular mechanisms by which dietary and primary metabolites interact with the immune system have been partially identified and require further studies.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to take stock of the complex networks between diet, nutrients and immune responses. In particular, this Research Topic will consider Original Research, Short Communications, and Reviews based on, but not limited to, the following aspects:
- the impact of nutrition on immune responses that occur in IBD, asthma, allergies, intolerances, autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases;
- the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of interactions between dietary metabolites and immune cells and associated inflammatory diseases;
- the role of diet-associated bioactive principles, called nutraceuticals, and their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity.
The incidence of many inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, allergies, intolerances, and autoimmune disease has increased dramatically in Western countries over the past few decades. The nutritional changes that have occurred in Western countries has determined an increase of consumption of energy-dense, processed foods and a reduction of dietary fibers. Epidemiological studies correlate this ‘Westernized diet’, characterized with high dietary intake of proteins, saturated fats, refined sugars and low fibers, to an increase of obesity, allergies, asthma, and cancer. Furthermore, food additives commonly used during food processing to stabilize shelf-life and improve quality and taste of pre-packaged foods have been identified as a risk factor contributing to the increased occurrence of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. The dietary metabolites influence and intersect with the immune cells specifically in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and can determine chronic mucosal inflammatory conditions, as occurs in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and asthma. Interestingly, nutritional modulation of the immune system has a pivotal role not only within a pathological setting, but also in healthy conditions, acting to reduce or delay the onset of immune-mediated diseases.
Although studies in animal and in cellular models have highlighted the close link between diet and immune homeostasis, molecular mechanisms by which dietary and primary metabolites interact with the immune system have been partially identified and require further studies.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to take stock of the complex networks between diet, nutrients and immune responses. In particular, this Research Topic will consider Original Research, Short Communications, and Reviews based on, but not limited to, the following aspects:
- the impact of nutrition on immune responses that occur in IBD, asthma, allergies, intolerances, autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases;
- the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of interactions between dietary metabolites and immune cells and associated inflammatory diseases;
- the role of diet-associated bioactive principles, called nutraceuticals, and their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity.