Dietary Determinants of Cardiometabolic Risk and Non-Communicable Disease in Vulnerable Populations

Dietary Determinants of Cardiometabolic Risk and Non-Communicable Disease in Vulnerable Populations Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, have become leading contributors to global morbidity and mortality, with disproportionate impacts on populations experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, limited healthcare access, and food insecurity. Diet is one of the most critical modifiable risk factors in this progression, yet the ways in which dietary exposures contribute to cardiometabolic outcomes across diverse settings are not fully elucidated. Current global evidence is largely derived from homogenous, high‑income cohorts, creating important knowledge gaps in understanding the multifactorial relationships between diet, structural inequities, and emerging disease trends among vulnerable populations. Recent studies highlight the complex interplay between dietary quality, food processing, and metabolic dysfunction, but their generalizability to lower‑resource or culturally diverse settings remains uncertain, underscoring the need for targeted, inclusive research.This Research Topic aims to strengthen the understanding of how dietary factors shape cardiometabolic and non‑communicable disease risk within underrepresented and high‑risk populations. It seeks contributions that dissect the nutritional, behavioural, and contextual determinants of disease processes; evaluate emerging biomarkers and methodological innovations; and translate evidence into effective, equitable intervention and policy strategies. By gathering empirical and theoretical insights across diverse disciplines, this Research Topic will help build a more equitable evidence base for nutrition‑related disease prevention.To gather further insights into the dietary drivers of cardiometabolic and non‑communicable disease risk in at‑risk and underserved populations, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk: whole‑diet analyses, diet quality indices, traditional versus transitioning dietary models, and ultra‑processed food consumptionNutrient- and food‑specific contributions: fat quality, sodium, added sugars, fibre, micronutrients, and bioactive compoundsVulnerable populations: children, pregnant and lactating women, older adults, minoritized and indigenous groups, and low‑income communitiesEnvironmental and structural determinants: food access, socioeconomic gradients in diet quality, food insecurity, and policy environmentsBiomarkers, measurement, and methods: dietary assessment in diverse settings, nutritional biomarkers, multi‑omics approaches, and causal inference techniquesInterventions and policy implications: dietary interventions, reformulation and labelling policies, community nutrition programs, and translation of evidence to health guidance Topic editors: Machoene Derrick Sekgala, Sabina López Toledo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84433/dietary-determinants-of-cardiometabolic-risk-and-non-communicable-disease-in-vulnerable-populations