International Journal of Nutrition - Aims & Scope
Advancing Nutritional Science Through Rigorous Research and Open Access Publishing
Mission: The International Journal of Nutrition (IJN) is a peer-reviewed, open access scientific journal dedicated to advancing the understanding of nutrition's critical role in health maintenance, disease prevention, and therapeutic intervention. We publish high-quality research articles, comprehensive reviews, and impactful clinical studies that address the evolving landscape of nutritional science from molecular mechanisms to public health applications.
Core Research Domains
IJN prioritizes fundamental research in human, animal, cellular, and molecular nutrition as our core domains. Manuscripts in these areas form the backbone of our publication portfolio, with particular emphasis on advancing understanding of nutritional mechanisms across diverse populations and model systems.
Molecular Nutrition
- Nutritional biochemistry and metabolism
- Cellular mechanisms of nutrient action
- Nutrient-gene interactions and epigenetics
Cellular Nutrition
- Metabolic pathways and regulation
- Bioactive compounds and physiological effects
- Nutritional immunology and immune function
Human Nutrition
- Dietary interventions and clinical nutrition
- Nutrition and chronic disease prevention
- Behavioral nutrition and eating patterns
Animal Nutrition
- Animal nutrition and feed science
- Model organism studies
- Comparative nutrition across species
Secondary Research Areas
IJN also welcomes manuscripts that explore the intersection of nutrition with other scientific disciplines and contemporary challenges:
- Nutrition and Public Health policy development
- Global nutrition and diverse population studies
- Innovative methodologies in nutrition research
- Personalized nutrition and precision dietary approaches
- Gut microbiota interactions and health implications
- Applied nutritional research in community settings
- Interdisciplinary nutrition research combining multiple fields
Emerging Focus Areas
The journal actively encourages submissions in these developing areas of nutritional science:
- Artificial Intelligence and Big Data applications in nutritional studies
- Sustainability in food systems and environmental impact
- Climate change effects on nutritional security and quality
- Sustainable dietary practices and plant-based nutrition
- Nutritional education strategies and behavior change interventions
- Health communication approaches in nutrition promotion
Out-of-Scope / Exclusion Criteria
Manuscripts falling outside our core focus areas will not be considered for publication:
- Non-nutritional medical specialties: Research focused primarily on clinical procedures, surgical techniques, or non-nutritional therapeutic interventions without direct nutritional components
- Pure food science without nutritional context: Studies on food processing, preservation, or packaging that do not address nutritional implications or bioavailability
- Generic lifestyle or wellness content: Articles on general wellness trends, unscientific dietary fads, or non-evidence-based nutrition advice
- Non-scientific content: Opinion pieces, news articles, or commentary not grounded in scientific research methodology
- Studies lacking methodological rigor: Research without appropriate controls, sample sizes, or statistical analysis that compromises scientific validity
Article Types
IJN accepts various types of scholarly contributions to accommodate diverse research methodologies and findings in nutritional science:
Original Research Articles
Comprehensive reports of original research findings with significant contributions to nutritional science understanding.
Review Articles
Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and comprehensive overviews of current knowledge in nutrition research.
Short Communications
Brief reports of preliminary findings or novel methodologies in nutritional research.
Clinical Trials
Reports of controlled clinical studies investigating nutritional interventions and their health outcomes.
Methods Papers
Detailed descriptions of novel methodologies and protocols in nutritional research.
Perspectives
Opinion pieces and viewpoints on emerging topics in nutritional science.
Editorials
Expert commentary on current issues and emerging trends in nutrition research.
Letters to Editor
Scientific correspondence and commentary on published articles.
Nutrition Across the Lifespan
Optimal nutrition varies significantly across life stages, each presenting unique nutritional requirements and considerations:
- Maternal and Infant Nutrition: Prenatal nutrition, breastfeeding, and early childhood dietary needs
- Pediatric Nutrition: Growth and development nutritional requirements in children and adolescents
- Adult Nutrition: Maintenance of health and prevention of chronic diseases through optimal nutrition
- Geriatric Nutrition: Addressing age-related nutritional challenges and supporting healthy aging
Critical Role in Health
Proper nutrition is fundamental to maintaining overall health and preventing chronic diseases:
- Support for immune function and disease resistance
- Optimization of cognitive performance and mental health
- Prevention of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
- Role in cancer prevention through dietary interventions
- Management of existing health conditions through nutritional therapy
Submission Guidelines
All submissions must adhere to rigorous scientific standards and ethical guidelines. Manuscripts should present original work that has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by other journals.
Authors are encouraged to review our detailed Instructions for Authors before submission to ensure compliance with formatting and content requirements.
Authors can contact the Editor-in-Chief in advance to inquire about the potential suitability of their research topic for review.
Policy & Reporting Standards: We follow COPE Core Practices and ICMJE recommendations. Human and animal research requires IRB/IACUC approval and informed consent. Clinical trials must be preregistered (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov) and follow CONSORT; systematic reviews follow PRISMA (with PROSPERO registration); observational studies follow STROBE. All submissions include a Data/Code Availability statement with repository links where applicable. Editorial decisions are independent of commercial considerations; reviewers do not see fee or waiver status.
Submit Your Nutrition Research
Contribute to the global understanding of nutrition through rigorous peer-reviewed publication in IJN.
