Submissions

Author Guidelines

PN requires that all manuscripts be prepared following the “Recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical journals” set by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) (http://www.icmje.org/icmjerecommendations).

According to the trial registration policy of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) [https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/publishing-and-editorial-issues/clinical-trial-registration.html], all clinical trials must be registered, and the registration number must be included in the submitted manuscript. The ICMJE defines a clinical trial as any research study that prospectively assigns individuals or groups to one or more interventions to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related outcomes, regardless of the inclusion of control groups. Health-related interventions encompass a wide range of practices, including pharmaceutical treatments, surgical procedures, medical devices, behavioral strategies, educational initiatives, dietary modifications, quality improvement methods, and alterations in care processes.

The corresponding author, acting on behalf of all co-authors, is required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial, institutional, advisory, or otherwise, that may be relevant to the subject matter of the manuscript. In cases where such relationships exist, they must be described concisely and transparently at the end of the manuscript, before the reference section. In the absence of any conflicts, the following statement must be included: “Each author declares that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.” Manuscripts lacking this declaration cannot be accepted for online submission.

Authors must also disclose sources of funding, institutional affiliations, and any relevant conflicts of interest in the manuscript. Submissions that do not conform to the ethical principles outlined in this Declaration will not be considered for publication.

No submission fees are charged for online manuscript submission. Authors must designate a corresponding author who will be responsible for all communications between the editorial office and the co-authors throughout the submission and publication process, as well as post-publication. This individual must verify the accuracy of author names, order, and institutional affiliations, confirm that all listed authors have approved the submitted version, ensure permissions have been obtained for any previously published material, and confirm that all necessary disclosures and declarations have been appropriately included.

Only one corresponding author is permitted per manuscript. This author will serve as the sole point of contact for the journal and will receive all correspondence regarding authorship, forms, manuscript files, and other related matters.

Research involving human participants, human specimens, or human data must adhere to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and receive approval from an appropriate Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB). A statement including the name of the approving body, reference number, date, and duration of approval must be included in the manuscript. If the study was retrospective and exempt from ethics approval, this exemption must also be clearly stated. The decision to proceed with peer review in such cases lies at the discretion of the Editor.

Manuscripts submitted to PN must conform to appropriate standards of English. For authors whose first language is not English, it is strongly recommended that the manuscript be reviewed by a native English speaker prior to submission. The name of this individual should be acknowledged in the manuscript. If no such reviewer is available, authors are required to submit a certificate issued by a recognized Language Editing Service. 

The corresponding author is kindly requested to thoroughly review the manuscript for grammatical accuracy and to ensure the absence of unintended plagiarism by employing appropriate verification software prior to submission (e.g. Turnitin).

All authors must register at the official website (http://www.progressinnutrition.it) before submitting their manuscripts. Registration is compulsory. Once registered, authors may track the progress of their submissions by logging in with their credentials. While no fees are charged for the submission or processing stages, a publication fee is required following acceptance of the manuscript.

Authors retain the full right to withdraw their manuscript at any point post-submission. However, if the withdrawal occurs after the peer review or final processing stages, a withdrawal fee equivalent to 50% of the article processing charge will be applied. For inquiries regarding article processing charges (APC), fee waivers, or manuscript withdrawals, please contact the Managing Editor, Dr. Valeria Ceci.

Authors are strongly advised to read the complete guidelines before submitting their manuscript. Submission implies that the content has not been previously published or concurrently submitted elsewhere. The journal Progress in Nutrition requires the use of four mandatory templates during the submission process: 

1) PN title page template 

2) PN manuscript template

3) PN cover letter sample

4) Conflict of interest statement

Submissions lacking any of these documents will be desk-rejected. 

To submit a manuscript, authors must log in at http://www.progressinnutrition.it and initiate a new submission by following the indicated steps. Prior to starting the process, it is recommended to consult the Submission Preparation Checklist available in the “For Authors” section of the homepage.

The ORCID iD of the corresponding author is mandatory. Co-authors are also encouraged to provide their ORCID identifiers. The adoption and integration of ORCID iDs is considered beneficial for the transparency and traceability of scientific contributions. For more information or to register, please visit the ORCID website (https://orcid.org/content/collect-connect).

 Author Contributions Statement

Author Contributions

This section should be placed immediately after the Conflict of Interest statement. In accordance with the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), authorship is reserved for individuals who meet all of the following four criteria (please list contributors using initials for both first name and surname only):

1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data;

2. Drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for significant intellectual content;

3. Final approval of the version to be published;

4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that any issues related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Note: All listed authors must satisfy all four criteria. Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the requirements for authorship should be acknowledged in the “Acknowledgements” section.

This section must be included in the manuscript between the Conflict of Interest statement and the References.

The corresponding author is responsible for completing this information at manuscript submission, and we expect that all authors will have reviewed, discussed, and agreed with the final version of the manuscript.

Manuscript Categories and Submission Requirements

All manuscripts must be prepared using Times New Roman font, 12-point size, and double-spaced formatting.

Original Articles: These are full-length reports presenting novel research findings relevant to the journal's scope. Submissions should offer a significant contribution to scientific knowledge in the medical and nutritional sciences. The main text is limited to 5,000 words, including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures. A structured abstract of no more than 250 words is required and must be self-contained, comprising four sections: Background and Aim of the Work; Research Design and Methods; Results; and Conclusions. Authors must also provide 5–7 keywords to facilitate indexing.

The main text should be organized into the following sections:

1. Introduction

2. Patients and Methods: This should detail the study design, definitions, population/sample characteristics, measurements, statistical methods, and any specific methodological considerations. Ethical approval (with reference number, date, and approval duration) must be clearly stated.

3. Results: Report objective findings and statistical analyses only. Avoid methodological repetition or interpretative commentary.

4. Conclusions: Summarize key findings and contextualize them within the existing literature, highlighting novel contributions.

5. Acknowledgements (if applicable)

6. Funding: Indicate funding sources with full agency names and grant numbers in brackets. If unfunded, state “None”.

7. Conflict of Interest Statement

8. Author Contributions

9. References: No citation limit. Up to 10 tables and/or figures are permitted.

Brief Reports: These follow the structure of Original Articles but must not exceed 2,500 words. A maximum of two figures or two tables (or one of each) and 20 references is allowed. A structured abstract (max. 200 words) is mandatory.

Editorials: Editorials are typically invited and authored by experts in response to articles published in the journal. They must not exceed 2,000 words. No abstract is required. The reference limit is 10, and only one table or figure may be included.

Review Articles: May be submitted independently or by invitation. Unsolicited reviews must include a proposal outlining the importance of the topic, its relevance to the journal, and its potential appeal to readers. Two primary formats are accepted:

• Narrative or Comprehensive Review Articles: These synthesize and critically analyze current literature on a focused topic, offering an updated and in-depth perspective. Reviews should define their objectives explicitly. Maximum word count: 6,000 words (including abstract, excluding references, tables, and figures). Abstracts (up to 250 words) should be structured with Background and Objective, Methods (including databases and timeframe), and Conclusions. Main text should include: Introduction, Methods, Main Body, and Conclusions. A maximum of 10 figures/tables is recommended. No reference limit applies. Ethical statements are required for included images. Author contributions and relevant permissions must be documented.

• Systematic Reviews (without Meta-analysis): These must follow a rigorous, pre-defined methodology, including eligibility criteria, screening strategy, and data synthesis. PRISMA guidelines should be followed, and registration with PROSPERO is encouraged. The search strategy must specify: databases consulted, search date, search terms, query structure, and any applied filters. The abstract (max. 250 words) should be structured as above. Word count: max 6,000 words (excluding references, figures, and tables). Up to 10 figures/tables are allowed.

Mini-Reviews and Narrative Reviews: Mini-reviews provide concise updates on emerging or narrowly focused topics, whereas narrative reviews explore current knowledge on a condition, its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. These do not require systematic search methodologies but should be evidence-based and authored by established experts. Word limit: 4,000 words (excluding abstract, references, figures/tables). Abstract: unstructured, up to 250 words. A maximum of 30 references and 3 figures/tables is allowed. All reviews undergo peer review.

Commentaries / Viewpoints: Typically invited by the Editors, these reflect on specific articles published in the journal, placing their findings within the broader context of the discipline. Maximum length: 1,000 words, with no abstract required. One table or figure and up to 7 references may be included.

Case Reports: These describe rare or atypical clinical cases, new presentations of known conditions, or emerging diseases. Manuscripts should not exceed 2,000 words (excluding abstract and references). Structure: Abstract (unstructured), Running Title, Keywords, Introduction, Case Report, Discussion, References, and up to 4 figures or tables. Personal identifiers must be excluded, and informed consent for publication is required. In cases where the subject is deceased, consent must be obtained from the next of kin. Funding and grant information must be disclosed, or “None” stated explicitly. Submissions must adhere to the CARE guidelines (http://www.care-statement.org/).

Focus On:
Manuscripts submitted under the Focus On category must adhere to the same formatting, structural, and submission requirements as outlined for Original Articles. These contributions are intended to address specific, timely, or particularly relevant topics within the scope of the journal, while maintaining the same scientific rigor and structure expected of original research articles.

Manuscripts should be double-spaced. Please number each page. Authors (not more than 3) should upload separate files for the title page and the manuscript. Each author's full first name and surname should be followed by his or her department, institution, city and country. It is editorial policy to list only one author for correspondence. Only original, high-quality images will be considered for publication, provided they do not contain material that has been submitted or published elsewhere. All articles will be carefully selected and peer-reviewed.

Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor should be brief, focused contributions of general interest to the broader field of medical sciences and related sub-disciplines. Submissions must not exceed 1,200 words and may include up to six authors, one figure, one table, and a maximum of six references. Abstracts and keywords are not required. All letters will be subject to peer review.

A funding statement is mandatory: if the work was conducted without financial support, authors must explicitly state “None.” If funding was received, the full official name of the funding agency must be provided, with grant numbers included in brackets. The funding statement must appear before the references. A maximum of five Letters to the Editor will be published in each issue of Progress in Nutrition.

Correspondence
Correspondence typically refers to content published in Progress in Nutrition within the preceding four months. Submissions should not exceed 750 words and may include one figure or table and up to four references. No abstract is required. The Editor-in-Chief may solicit a response from the author(s) of the original article or may forward the correspondence to them. Correspondence is published free of charge.

Other Contributions
In general, Progress in Nutrition does not accept submissions outside the aforementioned categories.

If you have any questions regarding the article category for submission to PN, please contact the Editorial Office at: silviacavallo@mattiolihealth.com

Third-party permission

Authors who wish to use copyrighted third-party content (defined as any material within the manuscript which is not the author’s original work) must obtain permission from the copyright holder (usually the original publisher). Third-party content may consist of figures, photos, illustrations, and may be found in several places such as, but not limited to, websites, print, and online books and articles, theses, annual reports, conference material, etc.  Please report in full the Authors’ names and Journal reference in the didascaly of figure(s), diagram(s), etc., and the Publisher’ permission.  Once obtained, documents certifying the permission to use third-party content should be sent to silviacavallo@mattiolihealth.com for archiving purposes.

The following items must be submitted to PN:

1. The corresponding Author must disclaim in the frame letter to the Editor-in Chief that the submitted paper has not already been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. It is original and not contains parts taken from other publications. All submissions are accepted with the understanding that they have not been, and will not be, published elsewhere substantially in any format. Also, there should be no ethical concerns with the content or data collection.
2. Please, download and use the four template files (TITLE PAGE, MANUSCRIPT, ABM COVER LETTER SAMPLE and CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT) for your online submission (see below). Then, upload both files in your submission.
   
   a) TITLE PAGE must contain:
   - a concise informative title;
   - full author(s) names (without professional qualification); please, mark in red the family name (last name) of all the authors;
   - affiliations: department or institution where work was done;
   - correspondence: full name and address of author to whom correspondence about the manuscript and request for reprints should be referred, as well as fax, telephone number, E-mail and ORCID number;
   - a running title of no more than 40 characters;
   - total text word count and abstract word count.
   
   b) MANUSCRIPT must include:
   - abstract (not more than 250 words),
   - key words (5-7 key words that will assist indexers in cross-indexing the article),
   - a running title of no more than 40 characters,
   - manuscript,
   - tables and figures with legends [on the top for the table(s) and at the bottom for the figure(s)],
   - ethic committee  permission (institution, name, protocol number, year and duration of permission) and informed consent must be reported in the section Patients and Methods and at the end of the manuscript in the Statements section.
   - acknowledgements (if added); funding; statement of conflicts of interest (required), ethic committee  permission (required), informed consent (required), contribution of the authors (required), declaration of AI (required).
   - references.
3. The online submission fields must contain the full names of all authors, using the button "add contributors" with capital letters only for the first letter of authors’ names. Missing authors in the metadata will reflect in missing authors list in Databases as Scopus. Therefore, please pay attention to be sure that all authors and their affiliations  have been added.

Removal or addition of author(s) during the revision of manuscript and/or after manuscript acceptance is not permitted.

Please, be sure to add all the affiliations of authors during submission process, including the affiliation of the author who submit the article.
Be certain to list E-mail of the corresponding author on the title page. The correspondences will only take place via website.

1. b) MANUSCRIPT must include:
   - abstract (not more than 250 words),
   - key words (5-7 key words that will assist indexers in cross-indexing the article),
   - a running title of no more than 40 characters,
   - manuscript,
   - tables and figures with legends [on the top for the table(s) and at the bottom for the figure(s)],
   - ethic committee  permission (institution, name, protocol number, year and duration of permission) and informed consent must be reported in the section Patients and Methods.

 - acknowledgements (if added); funding; statement of conflicts of interest (mandatory),

- references.

General Style Guidelines

Acronyms and Abbreviations: Abbreviations should be used judiciously and only when they facilitate readability by minimizing the repetition of lengthy technical terms. At first mention, the full term should be provided, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. The abbreviation may be used subsequently.

Pharmaceutical Nomenclature: All pharmaceutical agents should be referred to by their generic names. Brand or trade names should be avoided.

Units of Measurement: All measurements must be reported using SI units or those derived from the SI system. Further information can be obtained from the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). While not an SI unit, degrees Celsius should be employed for body temperature and for laboratory temperatures within physiological ranges. If conventional units are used, the corresponding SI values must be provided in parentheses. Manuscripts must present HbA1c values in both SI units (IFCC) and NGSP/DCCT units.

Numerals: Numbers below ten should be written out in words, with the following exceptions: numerical values followed by a unit (e.g., 8 mmol/l); age (e.g., 6 weeks old); or when included in a list with other numerals (e.g., 11 dogs, 9 cats).

Statistical Reporting: In the Results section, authors must specify the statistical methods used for data analysis. Numerical results should be reported both as absolute values and as derived values (e.g., percentages). Exact P values should be reported rather than indicating thresholds (e.g., “not significant” or “N.S.”). Italic uppercase P should be used (e.g., P = 0.048). P values should be reported to three decimal places (e.g., P = 0.025), except when greater than 0.1, in which case two decimal places are sufficient (e.g., P = 0.25). Values may be expressed as P < 0.001 or P < 0.0001 when appropriate. Both “p” and “P” are acceptable, though international standards recommend uppercase italic P (Fukuda H, Ohashi Y. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 1997;27:121–7).

Unqualified interpretation of statistical analyses is discouraged. Authors are required to submit formal documentation attesting to statistical certification or demonstrated expertise in study design, data analysis, and interpretation of findings.

Use of Trade Names: All chemical compounds should be identified by their generic names. Trade names must be excluded. In cases where proprietary chemicals, reagents, or instruments are used, their generic name should be given, followed by the proprietary designation and the manufacturer’s name and location in parentheses.

Figures and Illustrations: Authors are responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions from original authors and copyright holders for the reproduction of figures, tables, or other materials from previously published sources. Written authorization from the copyright holder (typically the publisher) must be submitted with the cover letter when reproducing previously published material.

All original images and graphical elements must be submitted as high-resolution files (minimum 300 dpi) and formatted to match the journal’s column width (8 cm). Photographs that may allow identification of individuals must be accompanied by a permission letter. All images should include legends, and figure references in the text should follow the format: (Figure 1), (Figures 1–3), etc. Figures should be cited as: Figure 1A, Figure 1B, Figure 2, Figure 3, and so forth. When referring to sequential sub-parts of a figure, use: Figure 1A–1D.

Tables: Tables should be numbered sequentially using Arabic numerals. Each table must include a concise but comprehensive legend, and the table should be intelligible without reference to the main text. All abbreviations must be explained in footnotes. Footnote symbols should follow the sequence: †, §, ¶. Asterisks (*, **, ***) should be reserved exclusively for P-values. Tables must be embedded within the main manuscript and must supplement, not duplicate, content from the text.

Figure Legends: Legends should be succinct yet sufficiently detailed to allow understanding without reference to the main text. All symbols, abbreviations, and units of measurement must be clearly defined. Statistical descriptors such as standard deviation (SD) or standard error of the mean (SEM) should be indicated in figure headings as necessary.

References: References must be cited in the text in the order in which they appear, using round brackets (e.g., (1,2), (1–3)). References cited solely within tables or figure legends should follow the sequence of their first appearance in the main text.

The reference list must be organized numerically and formatted as follows: list all authors when there are six or fewer; for seven or more authors, list the first three followed by “et al.” Include the article title, abbreviated journal name (as listed in Index Medicus), year, volume, and inclusive page numbers. Do not use bold or italic formatting and do not insert a period after authors’ names. Following the journal title, provide the DOI if available; otherwise, include the PMID.

The referencing style should primarily adhere to the Vancouver system, with formatting adapted in accordance with the PubMed Citation Style as used by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

Examples:

1. Standard journal articles
   - Soliman AT, De Sanctis V, Yassin M, Wagdy M, Soliman N. Chronic anemia and thyroid function. Acta Biomed. 2017;88(1):119-27. doi: 10.23750/abm.v88i1.6048.
2. Electronic journal
   - Vanelli M. Tips to avoid weak scientific English. Acta Biomed. 2021; 92(3): e2021235. doi: 10.23750/ abm.v92i3.11810.
3. Organization as author
   - Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. Hypertension, insulin, and proinsulin in participants with impaired glucose tolerance. Hypertension. 2002;40(5):679-86. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.0000035706.28494.09.
4. No author given
   - Listed NA. Abstracts from 11th George Rajka International Symposium on Atopic Dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol. 2021;101(221). doi: 10.2340/00015555-3793.
5. Article not in English
   - Chen S, Chen YL, Chen B, Chen YH. Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi. 2019;49(3):168-78. [Chinese]. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0255-7053.2019.03.006.
6. Volume with supplement.
   - Geraud G, Spierings EL, Keywood C. Tolerability and safety of frovatriptan with short- and long-term use for treatment of migraine and in comparison with sumatriptan. Headache. 2002;42 Suppl 2:S93-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1526-4610.42.s2.7.x.
7. Issue with supplement
   - Glauser TA. Integrating clinical trial data into clinical practice. Neurology. 2002;58(12 Suppl 7):S 6-12. doi: 10.1212/wnl.58.12_suppl_7.s6. 
8. Chapter in a book
   - Meltzer PS, Kallioniemi A, Trent JM. Chromosome alterations in human solid tumors. In: Vogelstein B, Kinzler KW, editors. The genetic basis of human cancer. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2002. pp. 93-113.
9. Conference proceedings
   -Harnden P, Joffe JK, Jones WG, editors. Germ cell tumours V. Proceedings of the 5th Germ Cell Tumour Conference. 2001 Sep 13-15; Leeds, UK. New York: Springer; 2002.

 Conflict of Interest statement

If no conflict of interest exists the corresponding Author should report after references : "Each author declares that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g. consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangement etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article". It has to be placed before the references.

Acknowledgments

The acknowledgments are located before the reference list. Contributions from anyone who does not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed. The source of financial grants and the contribution of colleagues or institutions should be acknowledged. Thanks to anonymous reviewers are not appropriate.

Funding

If the research was carried out without funding, "None" should be stated in this section. In providing details of funding, authors should report: The full official funding agency name should be given. Grant numbers should be given in brackets. It has to be placed before the references.

Last pre-print check

Before the final printing, the Editor will request via website to the corresponding author to make the last check of the already accepted manuscript and to return it within 48 hours. Corrections should be marked on the actual galley proofs. Co-Author(s) additions are not permitted. Please, remember that AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE ARTICLE NO MORE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE.

Reprints: Reprints are available if requested. Order form and a price list have to be requested to the Publisher.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Manuscripts

The use of AI-assisted tools (e.g., ChatGPT, GPT-4, Bard) is permitted only for language and grammar improvements. AI must not generate original scientific content, conduct analyses, or interpret data. Authors must disclose AI use in the Methods or Acknowledgments section. AI cannot be listed as an author, as it does not meet authorship criteria. Authors remain fully responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and originality of their work. Editors and reviewers must not use AI for peer review. Manuscripts will undergo plagiarism and ethical checks, and undisclosed or improper AI use may lead to rejection or retraction.

Misconduct, Plagiarism, and AI-related Violations

Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of all references included in their manuscripts. In cases where serious inconsistencies are found—such as non-existent references, fabricated data, or citation of unpublished material—the editorial office reserves the right to suspend or terminate the editorial process at any stage.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of references must be explicitly declared under the Declarations section of the manuscript. The editorial office may conduct verifications both before and after pre-acceptance by the Editor-in-Chief. Manuscripts found to include AI-generated references without disclosure may be subject to immediate suspension.

In the event of confirmed misconduct, including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication, or fraudulent citation practices, no refund will be granted for any editorial or publication services already rendered. Furthermore, if the manuscript is withdrawn due to misconduct after acceptance or final processing, the publisher reserves the right to apply a penalty fee equivalent to twice the standard publication fee.

(Last update version: 29 July 2025)