Modified Proteins Modulate the Digestion and Metabolism of Essential Nutrients and Enhance Food Function

Global population growth presents unprecedented challenges to sustainable food systems, creating an urgent need to innovate nutrient utilization strategies. Faced with limited food resources, scientific attention is increasingly focused on enhancing nutrient digestive and absorptive efficiency through advanced protein engineering - particularly for vulnerable populations including infants, elderly adults, and patients with metabolic comorbidities. Dietary proteins, including animal-based, plant-based and microbial sources, are essential nutrients to maintain daily life activities. Their structural complexity enables targeted modifications through glycosylation, fibrillation, hydrolysis and polymerization, which can change their gastrointestinal fate, including hydrolysis kinetics, peptide release, and interactions with digestive enzymes or gut microbiome.Emerging evidence reveals that structural modifications of proteins can enhance their interaction with lipids, carbohydrates and minerals, which profoundly influence the digestion and absorption of these co-ingested nutrients. Despite rapid technological advancements in protein modification, systematic investigations into their impact on nutrients digestion and absorption remain fragmented. This knowledge gap limits the development of precision nutrition solutions and personalized food formulations.This Research Topic aims to decode the structure-function dynamics of modified proteins in modulating macronutrient-micronutrients co-metabolism, using static or dynamic in vitro digestion simulation and in vivo animal model, focusing on characteristics of modified protein modulating lipids, carbohydrates and mineral metabolism. This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge developments in the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of essential nutrients in the presence of modified proteins, providing valuable insights for researchers, dietitians, and industry professionals seeking to enhance essential nutrients functions.The Research Topic welcomes original research and reviews addressing a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:● Modified Protein: including glycosylated, fibrillated, hydrolyzed and polymerized proteins of plant-based, animal-based and microbial origin, focusing on their digestive and absorptive properties, peptide products, amino acid release profiles and nutritional function.● Protein-lipid complex: including Pickering emulsion, nanoparticles or microcapsules, focusing on physical barriers, enzyme activity modulation, and cell transport regulation affecting lipid metabolism, postprandial blood lipid, energy supply, intestinal flora and chronic diseases.● Protein based low GI carbohydrate: focusing on forming physical barriers, inhibiting digestive enzyme activity, regulating gastrointestinal hormones secretion and intestinal glucose transport affecting carbohydrate digestion, postprandial glycemia, satiety, weight control intestinal flora and metabolic syndrome.● Protein Mineral Chelates, including chelates containing iron, zinc and calcium ions, focusing on mineral supplementation, absorption, storage, transportation and bioavailability. Topic editors: Wenbin Zhang, Juncai Leng, Yan Kong, Jamshed Tolehmurodovich Bobokalonov, Mohamed Ghamry Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/72954/modified-proteins-modulate-the-digestion-and-metabolism-of-essential-nutrients-and-enhance-food-function