Editorial: Nutritional challenges and therapies in youth with chronic inflammatory diseases

Nutrition has transitioned from merely providing energy and essential nutrients to becoming a vital aspect of precision medicine, influencing inflammation, metabolism, and treatment outcomes in chronic diseases. Recent studies published in Frontiers in Nutrition illustrate the significance of biomarkers, body composition, and phytochemical research in redefining clinical nutrition.

The inflammatory-nutritional axis is identified as a crucial factor in chronic disease. For instance, a study found that a high Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) predicts central obesity in children, suggesting that obesity is an immune-metabolic condition. In adults, the Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) reveals a ‘J-shaped’ relationship between inflammation and mortality, underscoring the importance of achieving an inflammatory-nutritional balance rather than merely normalizing body weight.

Body composition also plays a role in treatment efficacy. In children with Crohn’s disease, sarcopenia doubles the risk of losing response to biologic therapy. Nutritional interventions can improve muscle status, although some patients may still experience residual sarcopenia, underscoring the need for integrated approaches combining nutrition, pharmacology, and exercise.

Studies on phytochemicals demonstrate their potential in molecular nutrition. For example, Quercus brantii extract improved lipid profiles in beta-thalassemia patients without adverse effects, while Biochanin A enhanced bone regeneration in juvenile mice, illustrating the capacity of bioactive compounds to influence tissue repair and cellular differentiation.

Operationally, a study showed that nearly half of critically ill children with chronic diseases were undernourished, often due to logistical issues rather than intolerance, emphasizing the need for effective nutritional therapy protocols. Globally, the International Initiative for Pediatrics and Nutrition (IIPAN) offers consensus recommendations for managing malnutrition in children with cancer in resource-limited settings, bridging scientific precision with health equity.

Emerging research highlights the interplay between obesity, asthma, and the gut-lung axis, indicating the potential for dietary modulation of the microbiome to affect immune and respiratory health. Collectively, these studies position nutrition as a critical intervention in precision medicine, capable of transforming chronic disease prevention and treatment. [NPID: Inflammatory-nutritional axis, phytochemicals, obesity, asthma, molecular nutrition, chronic disease]

Year: 2026

Reference: Zamberlan, P., Oba, J., & Delgado, A. F. (2026). Editorial: Nutritional challenges and therapies in youth with chronic inflammatory diseases. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1740365. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1740365

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