The profound influence of diet on human health has been recognized since antiquity, yet the complexity of this relationship continues to be a central focus of modern scientific inquiry. Nutritional science often focused on individual nutrients – their deficiencies and excesses – in an attempt to isolate causative factors for disease. While this approach yielded significant insights into essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients, it frequently overlooked the synergistic and antagonistic interactions that occur within the complex matrix of whole foods and, more broadly, within the context of an overall dietary pattern. A dietary pattern encapsulates the usual combinations, quantities, and proportions of foods and beverages consumed by an individual or population over time. This integrated perspective acknowledges that people do not consume nutrients in isolation but rather as part of a broader dietary matrix, where the collective impact of food groups and overall eating habits likely dictates health effects more powerfully than single components.

This Research Topic aims to systematically integrate the latest research findings in the field of dietary patterns and human health, thereby addressing the aforementioned research gaps. By compiling evidence from interdisciplinary studies—encompassing nutrition, epidemiology, molecular biology, and public health—it seeks to clarify the health effects of different dietary patterns across various populations and the disparities therein, while delving into their underlying mechanisms. Concurrently, it endeavors to facilitate the translation of theoretical research into practical applications, exploring scalable and implementable strategies for optimizing dietary patterns and intervention approaches. Ultimately, this Topic intends to provide evidence-based support for the formulation of scientific dietary guidelines, the implementation of precision nutrition guidance, and the alleviation of the burden of chronic diseases, so as to contribute to the enhancement of global population health.

We welcome submissions that align with the following specific themes:
● Epidemiological investigations into dietary patterns among populations in different regions and of different demographics (including children and adolescents, adults, the elderly, pregnant women, and patients with chronic diseases) and their association with common health outcomes (such as chronic diseases, nutrition-related disorders, and mental health);
● Research into the molecular mechanisms through which dietary patterns (e.g., healthy diets, unhealthy diets) regulate human health, including their impacts on gut microbiota structure and function, metabolomics, and epigenetics;
● Evaluation of the health effects of novel dietary patterns (e.g., plant-based diets, sustainable diets) and exploration of their underlying mechanisms;
● Development, validation, and application of dietary pattern assessment tools, such as dietary quality scoring scales and food frequency questionnaires;
● Design and effectiveness evaluation of dietary pattern-based intervention programs, including community nutrition education, school meal optimization, and clinical nutritional support;
● Research into the impacts of dietary pattern-related policy formulation and science popularization on population dietary behavior and health outcomes.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Dietary Patterns and Human Health: Epidemiological Evidence, Mechanistic Exploration, and Practical Applications