Dear Colleagues,

The growing demand for proteins and the search for bioactive proteins that can enhance health have prompted significant interest in alternative protein sources. These sources range from animal-based proteins to those derived from plants, insects, beans, dairy, eggs, algae, etc. Beyond their nutritional value, these sources are rich in bioactive compounds and have the potential to prevent and manage various diseases.

Bioactive peptides, which are low-molecular-weight protein fragments, are key contributors to these health benefits. Produced through enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, digestion, or microbial activity, these peptides play a vital role in unlocking novel mechanisms that support health. However, the field of studying these peptides is still developing; there is much to explore regarding their structures, mechanisms of action, and practical applications. These gaps present exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary research, including structure–activity relationships, bioactive compound libraries, molecular simulations, and in vitro and in vivo studies.

We invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, which will focus on the role of bioactive peptides in functional foods and nutraceuticals. Original research and review articles exploring their potential in developing therapeutic and dietary solutions for human health are encouraged.

We look forward to your contributions to this dynamic and promising field.

Dr. Daniela Beghelli
Dr. Shaobo Zhou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI’s English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• bioactive peptides
• functional foods
• nutrition
• peptidomic analysis
• nutraceuticals
• enzymatic hydrolysis
• peptide structure–activity relationship