Editorial: Dietary patterns and oxidative stress: implications for obesity, T2D, and cancer management

Understanding how dietary patterns modulate internal oxidative stress is becoming increasingly 5 important for explaining the rising global burden of metabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 6 diabetes (T2D), and cancer. Excessive caloric intake has been shown to promote the generation of 7 reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn drive chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, 8 and oxidative cellular injury. Thus, high-calorie dietary patterns and the oxidative stress they induce 9 contribute to numerous pathological processes, including tumor initiation and progression (1, 2), 10 insulin resistance (3), β-cell dysfunction (4), and obesity-related tissue impairment (5). However, 11 evidence regarding which specific dietary components and molecular pathways exacerbate or 12 alleviate oxidative injury remains limited (6). To address this gap, this Research Topic presents 13 studies that elucidate the mechanistic links between dietary exposures, oxidative stress, 14 inflammation, and chronic disease risk, while also highlighting emerging biomarkers and potential 15 intervention strategies. 16Calorie excess, nutrient imbalance, and Western dietary habits elevate the production of ROS. 17 report that elevated oxidative balance scores correlate with reduced all-cause and cardiovascular 23 mortality in these groups. A global perspective is provided by Hou et al., who quantify the burden 24 of T2D-related chronic kidney disease (CKD) attributable to dietary risks using data from the Global 25 Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Their analysis shows that diets low in fruits, whole grains, 26 and vegetables and diets high in processed meats are major contributors to the burden of T2D-related 27 CKD. Taken together, these findings highlight the value of dietary indices that capture inflammatory 28 and oxidative potential as tools for predicting chronic disease risk. 29It has become increasingly clear that our diets influence far more than caloric intake. The interplay between micronutrients and metabolic homeostasis is highlighted by Lin et al., who report 31 that the risks of overweight and obesity are inversely associated with serum iron levels, transferrin 32 saturation, and dietary iron intake. Their findings suggest that iron status may shape energy 33 metabolism, adipocyte function, and inflammatory processes. Dietary intake also modulates gut 34 microbiome composition, and both probiotics and prebiotics have attracted considerable attention. Overall, the studies in this Research Topic advance our understanding of how dietary patterns, 51 micronutrient status, gut microbiota, and inflammatory burden intersect with oxidative stress to 52 influence the development and progression of obesity, T2D, and cancer. They also strengthen the 53 evidence that oxidative stress is not just a downstream consequence of poor metabolic health but 54 also an important mediator linking dietary exposures with chronic disease outcomes. 55 56