Journal of Nutrition最新文献

{"title":"Early-pregnancy calcium and protein intake are associated with newborn bone mineral density in women with obesity.","authors":"Anna A Ammundsen, Emma Krak, Pernille Schmidt, Thórhallur I Halldórsson, Christian Mølgaard, Allan A Vaag, Kirsten Nørgaard, Emma M Carlsen, Charlotte Brøns, Kristina M Renault","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101879","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101879","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maternal vitamin D status, calcium and protein intake during pregnancy may influence offspring bone health. However, these associations are poorly understood in women with obesity, who are often advised to restrict dietary intake.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine associations between maternal vitamin D status, calcium and protein intake in early and late pregnancy and newborn areal bone mineral density (aBMD) among women with obesity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In the Treatment of Obese Pregnant Women (TOP) study, 231 offspring underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans within 48 hours after birth to assess aBMD. Analyses included 218 and 208 mother-newborn dyads with dietary data and 175 and 171 dyads with maternal vitamin D data in early and late pregnancy, respectively. Maternal calcium and protein intake were assessed by validated food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) at gestational weeks 11-14 and 36-37, and maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were measured at weeks 18-20 and 28-30.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Offspring of mothers in the lowest calcium intake quartile in early pregnancy had 4.1% lower BMD than those in the highest intake quartile (P = 0.028). Moderate protein intake (15.1-17.1% of total energy intake (E%)) was associated with 6.2% higher newborn BMD compared with intake <15 E% (P = 0.001). No associations were observed for late-pregnancy intake or maternal vitamin D status.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Lower maternal calcium intake and moderate protein intake during early pregnancy were associated with differences in newborn BMD, with lower BMD at low calcium intake and higher BMD at moderate protein intake levels in women with obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101879"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149168849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Evolutionary Perspective on Sports Nutrition: Strengths, Vulnerabilities, and Targeted Interventions in Homo sapiens.","authors":"Eric T Trexler, Herman Pontzer","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101884","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101884","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The genus Homo is characterized by several anatomical and physiological traits that reflect millions of years of selection for sustained physical activity in hot environments. These adaptations include high capacity for sweating, metabolic substrate flexibility during low-intensity activity, and several morphological features of the lower limb and pelvis that facilitate energy-efficient locomotion. The present narrative review examines sports nutrition through an evolutionary lens by identifying the specific physiological strengths and vulnerabilities of Homo sapiens and assessing targeted nutritional interventions designed to address constraints on performance. Constraints discussed include submaximal resting phosphocreatine concentrations, modest proton buffering capacity, limited rates of intestinal energy and carbohydrate absorption, high water flux due to eccrine sweating, and an endurance-biased skeletal muscle phenotype that is not optimized for the accretion of large quantities of muscle tissue. Nutritional strategies reviewed include creatine monohydrate supplementation, supplements that increase muscle carnosine content, supplements that increase blood bicarbonate levels, exogenous carbohydrate delivery, fluid and electrolyte replacement protocols, and high-protein dietary strategies to support hypertrophic adaptations to resistance training. Examining sports nutrition through an evolutionary lens facilitates assessment of the physiological systems that frequently constrain exercise performance and the most viable nutritional strategies to mitigate these constraints.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101884"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149166896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Including other body size measures with BMI does not meaningfully change estimates of excess adiposity for surveillance purposes.","authors":"Cynthia L Ogden, Jack A Yanovski, Alan E Simon, Catharine A Couch, Lara J Akinbami, Samuel D Emmerich, Joseph Afful, Bryan Stierman, Te-Ching Chen, Cheryl D Fryar, Craig M Hales, Susan Z Yanovski","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101883","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101883","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission on the Definition and Diagnosis of Clinical Obesity proposed definitions and diagnostic criteria for pre-clinical (excess adiposity, ExAdip) and clinical obesity (ClinOb).</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the impact definitions of ExAdip and ClinOb on obesity surveillance among US adults ≥20 years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey August 2021-August 2023 data for US adults (n=5554) were used to compare obesity defined by body mass index (BMI) alone to prevalences based on 4 ExAdip definitions: defined as high BMI and high 1) waist circumference, 2) waist to hip ratio, 3) waist to height ratio, or 4) ≥2 high body size measures regardless of BMI (2BS). ClinOb prevalence, based on 5 of 18 proposed measures of dysfunction, (≥Stage 1 hypertension, metabolic cluster, metabolic liver dysfunction with fibrosis, kidney dysfunction, and limitations of activities of daily living) was also calculated. Differences between demographic subgroups within one definition were tested using t-tests. Definition estimates were compared to BMI-alone 95% confidence intervals to assess differences from the current obesity definition.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Obesity prevalence using BMI alone (40.8%, 95% CI 37.2-44.4%) was similar to ExAdip prevalence based on definitions that included BMI and other body size measures (∼40%), but differed compared to high 2BS (77.5%, 95% CI 74.0-80.8%). Almost 39% (38.7%, 95% CI 34.4-43.1%) of adults with BMI<25 had high 2BS. Similarly, ClinOb prevalence was comparable across ExAdip definitions that included BMI (∼25%) but higher based on high 2BS (43.4%, 95% CI 40.2-46.7%). Patterns by demographic subgroups were similar based on definitions that included BMI but differed based on ExAdip defined as high 2BS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Including other body measures beyond BMI to define ExAdip did not change ExAdip or ClinOb prevalence in the US. However, using two body size measurements regardless of BMI resulted in higher ExAdip.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101883"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149167118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-omics analysis reveals Oscillibacter valericigenes gavage increases fetal and placental weights and is associated with altered estrogen-related metabolism and valerate production in mice.","authors":"Xiaojian Xu, Zhenhong Yan, Yifan Hu, Haoyi Jiang, Lingling Sun, Renshuai Yi, Xianghua Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101878","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101878","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Our prior work associated Oscillibacter valericigenes and valerate-related features with offspring birth weight in Landrace × Yorkshire sows, but functional evidence was limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To test whether O. valericigenes or valerate increases late-gestation fetal weight and characterize maternal metabolic and placental responses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Pregnant mice received 200 μL of sterile culture medium (Control), O. valericigenes bacterial suspension (OV_B; 10⁸ CFU/mL), or sterile-filtered culture supernatant (OV_M) by oral gavage every other day from embryonic day (E) 7.5 to E17.5 (n = 7/group). Another cohort received sodium valerate (SV; 0-1.20 mg/mL) in drinking water from E7.5 to E17.5 (n = 8/group). At E18.5, fetal and placental weights, serum hormone concentrations, colonic and serum short-chain fatty acid concentrations, and placental gene expression were measured and analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's test. Multi-omics profiling was performed in the Control and OV_B groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with control, maternal gavage with O. valericigenes or its culture supernatant increased fetal weight by 4.56% and 6.81%, respectively (both P < 0.01), and placental weight by 8.57% and 8.25%, respectively (both P < 0.05). Multi-omics analyses revealed that O. valericigenes gavage was associated with altered estrogen-related metabolism and placental proteomic and transcriptional responses related to nutrient transport, angiogenesis, and tight junctions. Compared with the control group, OV_B increased colonic valerate concentration by 53.64% (P < 0.05) and tended to increase serum estradiol concentration by 34.58% (P = 0.054). SV supplementation at 0.60 mg/mL increased fetal weight by 6.44% (P < 0.01), placental weight by 7.30% (P < 0.05), and serum valerate concentration by 125.25% (P < 0.05) compared with its respective control. SV supplementation did not significantly alter serum estradiol or progesterone concentrations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>O. valericigenes increases placental and fetal weights and is associated with altered estrogen-related metabolism and colonic valerate production in mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101878"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149164621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Market Access Is Associated with Dietary Adequacy, While Own Production Remains Relevant under Rural Vulnerability.","authors":"Hongmei Chen, Qiran Zhao, Yu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101874","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101874","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rising hunger, food-price pressure, and constrained public support make the local pathways through which rural households obtain food central to diet quality.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examines how two food-source pathways, practical access to township food markets and diversified own production, are associated with diet quality among rural Chinese households and whether these associations differ by income group and poverty-county status.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The analysis uses 38,386 balanced observations from a 2019-2020 observational panel of the National Rural Fixed Observation Point survey. Diet quality is measured with the revised Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI_16), which separately scores overall dietary imbalance, insufficiency, and excess. Road-adjusted township distance (village-to-township straight-line distance divided by the village road-hardening rate) measures the transport burden of reaching township food markets. Production diversity counts the food groups a household produces. Panel models include village and year fixed effects, with standard errors clustered at the village level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Purchased food supplied more than 80% of energy and most measured nutrients. Greater transport burden was associated with more insufficiency and imbalance but lower excess scores. Production diversity was associated with less insufficiency and imbalance, with clear associations for insufficiency among low-income households and across multiple outcomes in poverty counties. In a standardized within-province comparison, road-adjusted township distance showed the larger association with imbalance and insufficiency. Self-consumption patterns were consistent with two roles: constrained reliance under greater transport burden and dietary support under more diverse production.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In rural China, market dependence makes practical access to township food markets broadly relevant to diet quality, with easier access linked to less insufficiency and imbalance but greater excess, while diversified own production plays a distinct role, remaining relevant to dietary adequacy for more vulnerable households. Market integration does not eliminate the nutritional relevance of own production under binding local constraints.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101874"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149167434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends and Advances in Animal Nutrition Research.","authors":"Beob Gyun Kim, Eun Joong Kim, Woo Kyun Kim, Sung Woo Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101872","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101872","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Animal nutrition encompasses the nutrition of all animal species; however, the primary focus is on farm animals. Research on farm animal nutrition has expanded exponentially over the past decade. This review evaluated over 2,000 research presentations from 9 major international conferences held in 2025, providing a comparative analysis between global farm animal nutrition trends and the current research landscape in Korea. Major research areas included utilization and efficacy of phytobiotics; the role and effects of biotic supplements including prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics; the requirements and the functional role of amino acids; and the requirements and the functional role of minerals. Enteric disease challenge models have been widely utilized to investigate how enteric infections alter nutrient requirements and affect the functional roles of nutrients in animal performance. The key topics in pig nutrition were related to amino acid requirements, functional amino acids, and low-crude protein diets. In poultry nutrition, utilization and efficacy of phytobiotics were the key topics. The key topics in ruminant nutrition included cow-calf feeding, proper feeding levels, and rumen functions. Driven by high feed costs, recent animal nutrition research in Korea has prioritized feedstuff evaluation alongside intestinal health optimization, focusing closely on the microbiota and the efficacy of biotic supplements. Notably, environmental sustainability in animal nutrition has grown into a key research focus in response to societal demands and government initiatives. From this review, animal nutrition research priorities exhibited dynamic shifts that were closely tied to target species and country-specific needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101872"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149148054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Canada's Updated Vitamin D Fortification Strategy is Anticipated to Improve Vitamin D Intakes and Status based on Modeling of National Data.","authors":"Janice L Daoust, Chantal Martineau, Krista Esslinger, Lidia Loukine, Fuqi Chen, The Minh Luong, Cunye Qiao, Nadine Kebbe, Isabelle Rondeau, Hope A Weiler","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101875","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101875","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inadequate vitamin D status remains a public health concern in Canada. To help address this, Health Canada implemented an updated (2022-2024) vitamin D fortification strategy. The strategy increased the mandated amounts of vitamin D in cow's milk and margarine, supported higher voluntary fortification of plant-based beverages (PBB) and permitted voluntary fortification of yogurt/kefir.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objectives of this study were to model the potential impact of recent vitamin D fortification measures on vitamin D intakes and status among people living in Canada.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Usual intakes (UI) from the cross-sectional 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition (n=19,369, ≥1 year) were modeled using National Cancer Institute methodology and increased amounts of vitamin D in cow's milk, fortified PBB (2 μg/100 mL), and margarine (26 μg/100 g), and new permission for yogurt/kefir (∼5 μg/serving). For each life-stage, self-reported racial or Indigenous-identity group, risk was evaluated using the proportion <Estimated Average Requirement (EAR: 10 μg/day) and the proportion >Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL). Canadian Health Measures Survey (2012-2019, n=21,387 3-79 years) cross-sectional data were modeled to evaluate the impact of the updated vitamin D fortification strategy on inadequate vitamin D status (<40 nmol/L serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2015, the %<EAR was >85.7% across life-stages. Modeling using higher amounts of vitamin D in fortified foods reduced the %<EAR to: 34.3 to 66.3% among children/adolescents, 62.8 to 80.6% among non-pregnant/lactating adults, and 51.0% in pregnant/lactating females; and was reduced according to racial group and Indigenous-identity. No group exceeded the UL. The prevalence of inadequate vitamin D status with modeling declined from 15.3 to 10.6% in children/adolescents, and from 19.6 to 14.6% in adults.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Health Canada's vitamin D fortification strategy appears to safely increase population level UI and status of vitamin D. The impact will need to be confirmed using new surveillance data.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101875"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149149843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sixty Years of the Korean Nutrition Society: Legacy, Leadership, and Path to Global Collaboration.","authors":"Hyesook Kim, Ki Nam Kim, Hyun Sook Lee, Youn-Ok Cho, Myoungsook Lee, Hye-Young Kim, Ji-Myung Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101871","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Since its establishment in 1967, the Korean Nutrition Society (KNS) has played a pivotal role in advancing nutrition science, promoting public health, and supporting evidence-based nutrition policies in Korea. The growth of KNS has paralleled the evolution of nutrition science in Korea, from establishing basic nutrition standards and addressing nutritional deficiencies in the 1960s and 1970s, to expanding nutrition research and policy activities in the 1980s and 1990s, and subsequently advancing evidence-based dietary guidelines, nutrition surveillance systems, and research infrastructure since the 2000s. Over the past 6 decades, KNS has contributed to the development of foundational research infrastructure, including the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans and the computer-aided nutritional analysis program, which have served as essential tools for nutrition research, dietary assessment, and national nutrition policy. These achievements have supported evidence for improving the nutritional status and health of Koreans. Beyond its domestic impact, individual researchers affiliated with KNS have gained an international reputation through advances in nutritional epidemiology, dietary pattern research, and studies of traditional Korean diets and fermented foods. National resources such as the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey have provided evidence on diet-disease relationships and have contributed to the global nutrition literature. Through collaboration with international professional societies, including the American Society for Nutrition, International Union of Nutritional Sciences, and Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies, KNS has promoted scholarly exchange and contributed to nutrition science in Asia and beyond. This review commemorates KNS's 60th anniversary by highlighting its historical development, major achievements, and contributions to nutrition research infrastructure. Furthermore, it discusses the global role of Korean nutrition science and explores opportunities for international collaboration in digital nutrition, precision nutrition, and harmonized nutrition data. Building on 6 decades of experience, KNS is well-positioned to contribute to global nutrition science and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101871"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Expression of Concern: Fini L, Selgrad M, Fogliano V, Graziani G, Romano M, Hotchkiss E, Daoud YA, De Vol EB, Boland CR, Ricciardiello L. Annurca Apple Polyphenols Have Potent Demethylating Activity and Can Reactivate Silenced Tumor Suppressor Genes in Colorectal Cancer Cells. J Nutr. 2007;137:2622-2628.","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101847","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101847","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101847"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149127385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut Health as a Determinant of Nutrient Use Efficiency in Poultry: Biological Basis and Nutritional Optimization.","authors":"M Naeem, W J Pacheco","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101860","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Efficient nutrient use is fundamental to sustainable poultry production because it influences productive performance, feed costs, animal welfare, and environmental nutrient losses. Although improvements in nutrient utilization have traditionally focused on diet formulation and feed additives, increasing evidence demonstrates that gut health is a central biological determinant governing digestion, absorption, and retention of nutrients. Gut health encompasses the coordinated interaction among intestinal morphology, digestive physiology, epithelial barrier integrity, gut microbiota, and mucosal immune homeostasis, all of which collectively regulate nutrient use efficiency. Disruption of these components by nutritional imbalances, enteric pathogens, heat stress, mycotoxins, and management-related stressors impairs digestive and absorptive function, increases intestinal permeability, alters microbial ecology, and redirects nutrients from productive processes toward immune activation and tissue repair. Consequently, maintaining intestinal homeostasis has become a major objective of modern poultry nutrition. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biological mechanisms linking gut health with nutrient use efficiency and examines how intestinal development, digestive function, nutrient transport, barrier integrity, microbial metabolism, and immune regulation interact to determine productive performance. Major nutritional, environmental, and pathological factors compromising gut function are discussed, together with current nutritional strategies including precision diet formulation, microbiota modulation, feed enzymes, functional amino acids, phytogenic compounds, antioxidants, and trace minerals that improve intestinal function and nutrient utilization. Collectively, the evidence synthesized in this review demonstrates that maintaining gut health is fundamental to maximizing nutrient use efficiency and provides a biological foundation for improving productive efficiency while reducing nutrient losses and supporting more sustainable poultry production.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"101860"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149110531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}