International Journal of Nutrition

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Special issues

Guest-edited collections in nutrition science

International Journal of Nutrition · ISSN 2379-7835

Focused, peer-reviewed, open-access collections on a single important topic — held to exactly the same standards as the regular journal. Here is what’s open now, and how to propose one.

Propose a special issue See open calls
Open for submission

Current special issues

Every special issue runs to the journal’s normal standards — independent peer review, open access, and the standard article processing charge.

Accepting submissions

Dietary Strategies to Reverse the NAFLD Epidemic

This special issue investigates evidence-based nutritional approaches that prevent, manage, or reverse non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) across diverse populations. We seek mechanistic studies, clinical interventions, and real-world programme evaluations that unlock scalable solutions.

Coordinated by: the IJN Editorial Leadership Submission deadline: 15 December 2026

First review cycle; rolling consideration until 15 February 2027.

Keywords: NAFLD, metabolic syndrome, functional foods, microbiome, lifestyle medicine, hepatic biomarkers

Topics of interest
  • Clinical nutrition trials assessing diet composition, timing, or supplementation for NAFLD management.
  • Community-based or digital health interventions improving adherence to liver-friendly diets.
  • Omics-driven insights that link dietary patterns to hepatic fat metabolism and inflammation.
  • Health economics or implementation research evaluating scalable prevention strategies.
  • Case studies profiling successful multidisciplinary care pathways.
“Our goal is to bring together translational evidence that empowers clinicians and public health leaders to interrupt the NAFLD trajectory. We encourage submissions that integrate nutritional biochemistry with culturally sensitive behaviour change strategies.”
Submit to this special issue

Submit through the IJN portal and reference the special issue title in your cover letter.

Submission & review timeline

What happens after you submit

The same fast, transparent process as the regular journal — applied to your special-issue manuscript.

Now

Submit your manuscript through the IJN portal and reference the special issue title in your cover letter.

Within 10 days

The editorial team performs an initial scope screening; suitable manuscripts advance to external peer review.

3–4 weeks

First-round peer-review reports are returned, with consolidated feedback and a clear revision path.

On acceptance

Articles publish online immediately with a DOI, while the full collection assembles.

How IJN special issues work

Same rigour, a sharper focus

A special issue concentrates attention on one timely topic — without lowering any bar.

1

Guest-edited

A subject-expert guest editor shapes the scope and coordinates the call, working alongside the IJN editorial office.

2

Independently reviewed

Every manuscript gets the same Single-blind (double-blind on request) peer review as a regular submission — a guest editor never rules on their own paper.

3

Open & standard-priced

Articles publish open access under CC BY 4.0 at the journal’s standard APC — no premium for being in a collection.

Lead a collection

Propose a special issue

Special issues spotlight fast-moving areas of nutrition and create a coherent, highly discoverable collection. Established researchers can propose and guest-edit one, with full editorial support and a dedicated collection page — discoverable in Google Scholar and OpenAlex.

What a proposal includes

Theme & rationale

A clear topic scope, why it matters now, and the gap the issue will address.

Guest editor team

Names, affiliations and subject expertise of the proposed guest editor(s).

Draft timeline

Proposed dates for the call, the submission window and publication.

Targeted topics

Suggested subtopics and article types to guide submissions.

What a guest editor does
1

Plan

Finalise the topic scope and submission timeline with the editorial office.

2

Promote

Share the call for papers through your networks and communities.

3

Review

Manage independent peer review with full IJN support — never deciding on your own paper.

4

Publish

Approve final selections as the collection assembles.

Send us your idea

Proposals are assessed for fit and feasibility — alignment with IJN’s scope and readership, the strength of the guest-editor team, the novelty and urgency of the topic, and the potential for high-quality submissions.

Start a proposal Email the editorial office
Questions

Special issues — FAQ

Straight answers on what’s open, how proposals work, and the standards that apply.

Does IJN have any special issues open right now?
Yes. 1 special issue is currently accepting submissions — see the open calls above, each with its scope and deadline.
What is a special issue at IJN?
A guest-edited, themed collection of peer-reviewed articles on a focused topic in human nutrition. It runs to the same standards as the regular journal — the same Single-blind (double-blind on request) peer review, the same open-access publication, and the same article processing charge.
How do I propose a special issue?
Email [email protected] with a working title, a short scope (200–300 words), the names and affiliations of the proposed guest editor(s), and an indicative timeline. The editorial office reviews proposals for fit, rigour and feasibility before any call is opened.
Who can be a guest editor?
An established researcher with a strong publication record in the proposed topic and no unmanaged conflicts of interest. Guest editors coordinate the call and oversee peer review, working with the editorial office; final decisions rest with the journal.
Are special-issue articles reviewed differently?
No. Every special-issue manuscript undergoes the same independent peer review as a regular submission, and a guest editor never decides on their own paper. The standard applies equally.
Does a special-issue article cost more?
No. Special-issue articles carry the journal’s standard article processing charge, payable only on acceptance. See the APC page for current fees and waiver routes.
How will I know when a new special issue opens?
Accepted calls are listed on this page with their scope, keywords and deadline. You can also watch the Call for Papers page or contact the editorial office to register interest in a topic.
How long does a special issue take to complete?
Most special issues run about six to nine months from the call opening to publication, though the editorial office can adjust the schedule for topic complexity or a linked conference or grant. A team of guest editors is welcome for broader coverage.

Have a topic worth a collection?

Propose a special issue, or submit your nutrition research to the regular journal — same open access, same rigorous review, a first decision in about three weeks.

Propose a special issue Instructions for authors

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