About the Special Issue

Cardiometabolic diseases are a group of disorders that influence the heart and metabolic system, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. These diseases have become prevalent globally, with significant impacts on health and huge economic burden on family and medical system. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as potential preventive and therapeutical strategies to fight against cardiometabolic diseases, and current evidence suggests that they may be a safe and effective complement to conventional management strategies for cardiometabolic diseases.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to human health when consumed in adequate amounts. They have been shown to have a positive impact on cardiometabolic health by improving lipid profiles, blood pressure, and glucose metabolism. Specific strains of probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia, have been found to be particularly effective in reducing the risk of certain cardiometabolic diseases.

Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that are able to selectively stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the gut. They have been shown to have a positive impact on cardiometabolic health by improving insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, decreasing cholesterol levels, and promoting lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Examples of prebiotics include fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and some plant polysaccharides.

Synbiotics are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics that work together to improve gut microbiota and overall health. They have been shown to have a positive impact on cardiometabolic health by reducing insulin resistance, decreasing inflammation, and improving lipid metabolism.

Postbiotics are bioactive compounds/components produced by probiotics during the fermentation process. They have been shown to have a positive impact on cardiometabolic health by reducing inflammation, improving gut barrier function, and modulating the immune system. Examples of postbiotics include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), certain B group vitamins, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and exopolysaccharides (EPS), which are produced during the fermentation of food components by gut bacteria.

Therefore, this special issue aims to establish a platform to fast publish updated research in this exciting field of targeting cardiometabolic diseases using probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics. Authors are invited to submit original research articles, perspectives, and review articles that focus on, but are not limited to

(1) Understanding the effects, safety, and underlying mechanisms of these strategies in in vitro and in animal models, emphasizing on the regulation of gut microbiota;

(2) Epidemiological and clinical studies to explore/validate their health benefits on cardiometabolic diseases and safety.

Keywords: obesity; diabetes; cardiovascular disease; probiotic strains; polysaccharides; gut microbiome; molecular mechanism

Call for Papers