Dietary Chemicals and Human Health: Clinical and Population-based Evidence

Dietary chemicals, encompassing both nutrients and non-nutrient compounds found in foods, have garnered increasing attention for their potential health-promoting properties. Recent research highlights that these dietary components—ranging from phytochemicals and metabolites to food additives and processing byproducts—can exert anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic effects through various biological mechanisms. Despite these promising findings, a critical gap exists in translating mechanistic or laboratory data into clinical and population-level outcomes. There is ongoing debate regarding the efficacy, bioavailability, and safety of these compounds in real-world scenarios, especially across different population subgroups. While laboratory and preclinical studies have provided valuable insights, robust clinical and community-based evidence supporting the health benefits and risks of these dietary chemicals remains limited.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding by providing a comprehensive overview of the effects and safety of various chemicals found in the human diet, including both essential and non-essential compounds, but excluding contaminants—on a spectrum of health outcomes. By presenting the latest results from clinical trials, community and occupational cohort studies, and systematic reviews, this Research Topic seeks to bridge the evidence gap regarding the role of dietary chemicals in promoting well-being, preventing disease, and slowing aging processes. The primary objective is to evaluate which dietary compounds are effective and safe in different populations, clarify their mechanisms of action, and inform public health strategies in nutrition and preventive medicine.The focus of this Research Topic is restricted to chemicals intentionally or naturally present in foods (excluding contaminants), and their direct impact on human health as investigated through clinical or community-based research. We encourage original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and comprehensive reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following areas:• Evidence from clinical or population studies on dietary chemicals and health outcomes• Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of food chemicals, with and without advanced delivery systems (e.g., nanotechnology)• Influence of dietary compounds on gut microbiota and subsequent health implications• Biomarker-based assessments of the effects of food chemicals on disease risk and health status• Mechanistic studies of food bioactives in the prevention or management of chronic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, CVD, cancer)• Multi-disciplinary approaches that integrate food chemistry, nutrition, toxicology, and epidemiology in studying food chemical-health interactions• Population exposure assessments for specific food chemicals• Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of bioactive dietary supplements across various demographic or patient groups Topic editors: Yong Zhang, Li Su, Liang Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79669/dietary-chemicals-and-human-health-clinical-and-population-based-evidence