Molecular Mechanisms of Bioactive Nutrients Promoting Health through Gut Microbiota

Many food components (such as phytochemicals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, etc.) have been found to have various biological activities. Based on dietary intake and the availability of nutrients in the intestine, human gut microbiota can produce harmful metabolites that cause human diseases or beneficial compounds that prevent host diseases. Abnormal gut microbiota can produce endotoxins, exacerbating chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders. Moreover, gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining metabolism and health, and dysbiosis plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Therefore, a promising strategy to help manage colon and host health is to regulate the composition of the gut microbiota by eating biologically active food ingredients. Bioactive ingredients obtained from dietary sources can be designed and characterized to meet human nutritional and immune needs and balance gut microbiota. To maximize knowledge on the health effect of gut microbiota on improving human health, a Special Issue titled “Molecular Mechanisms of Bioactive Nutrients Promoting Health through Gut Microbiota” was published in the International Journal of Molecular Science, including nine papers: six research articles and three reviews. Among these six research articles, four are animal studies, one is an in vitro gut microbiota culture study, and one is a randomized clinical study.