Submissions

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Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • Please note that the preferred format for submitting manuscripts online is Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • The manuscript is prepared according to the journal template.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
  • Authors are kindly required to suggest at least two potential reviewers (name, affiliation, and e-mail) for their manuscript in the "Comments to the Editor" field (Step 1. Submission Process).

Author Guidelines

Journal of Health and Nutrition Research

Author Guidelines

Preparation, initial editorial screening, and submission requirements for manuscripts submitted to JHNR.

English Manuscripts Double-Blind Peer Review Open Access
Use the official template before writing or formatting the manuscript
The requirements below are aligned with the JHNR 2026 original-article template. Do not change the page setup, margins, column layout, typography, line spacing, capitalization of section headings, or order of sections. If a requirement is updated, the latest version posted on the official JHNR website takes precedence.
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General Information

Journal of Health and Nutrition Research (JHNR) is an international, double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal. Manuscripts must be written in clear academic English and submitted through the official OJS platform by one of the listed authors. Submissions made by an agency or by a person who is not an author may be declined or require authorship verification.

JHNR considers original research articles, review articles, and case study articles. The detailed structure on this page applies to original research articles prepared with the linked 2026 template. Authors of other article types must use the relevant current template and instructions.

The decision to send a manuscript for peer review, request revision, accept, or reject rests with the editorial team. Submission does not guarantee peer review or publication.

Health & Medical Sciences Public Health Nutrition Science Food Science & Technology Midwifery & Women's Health Nursing Science & Practice Pharmacy & Pharmacology
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Screening and Initial Selection of Manuscripts

Research Policy

A complete submission is normally screened by the Editor-in-Chief or a delegated editor within 2–3 working days. This initial assessment determines whether the manuscript is suitable for further editorial processing. The screening period begins after all required files and OJS metadata have been received; it is a target rather than a guarantee.

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Submission received
Files, declarations, and OJS metadata are checked for completeness.
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Initial screening
Scope, template, originality, ethics, scientific basis, author information, and completeness are assessed.
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Anonymization and handling editor
The editorial office prepares and checks a blinded copy; a subject editor then identifies independent reviewers.
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Double-blind review
At least one and normally two reviewers are invited; reports are normally requested within 24 days.
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Editorial decision
The handling editor evaluates the reports and advises the Editor-in-Chief, who issues the decision.

What is checked during initial screening?

Scope and article type
The research question and contribution must fit the journal's current Focus and Scope, and the selected article type must be appropriate.
Template and completeness
The correct template, required sections, files, metadata, tables, figures, and declarations must be complete.
Scientific rationale and contribution
The manuscript must present a clear research problem, current evidence, a meaningful gap, suitable objectives, and a defensible contribution.
Methodological adequacy
Design, sampling, instruments, data collection, analysis, and reporting must be appropriate and described sufficiently for evaluation or replication.
Ethics and research integrity
Originality, authorship, conflicts, ethical approval, informed consent, animal welfare, data integrity, and AI disclosure are checked where applicable.
Presentation quality
Academic English, logical organization, accurate tables and figures, current references, Vancouver style, and complete author information are assessed before editorial anonymization.
Proceed to peer review
The manuscript is assigned to a handling editor and independent reviewers.
Return for technical correction
Authors are asked to correct the manuscript, formatting, author metadata, or missing declarations before further assessment.
Desk rejection
A manuscript may be declined without external review for being out of scope, scientifically unsuitable, substantially non-compliant, plagiarized, unethical, or insufficiently prepared.

Important: Initial screening is an editorial assessment, not peer review. Review and decision timelines may vary because of manuscript complexity, reviewer availability, revisions, or research-integrity checks.

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Single-File Submission for Double-Blind Review

Authors submit one complete manuscript. A separate Title Page and anonymized Main Manuscript are not required. The complete manuscript is retained as a confidential editorial record, and the editorial office prepares the blinded copy provided to reviewers.
What Authors Submit
  • One complete manuscript file in Microsoft Word format using the current JHNR template.
  • The full manuscript title and all required article sections.
  • Full names of all authors in the correct order.
  • Department, institution, city, and country for every affiliation.
  • Email address and ORCID iD for each author.
  • Corresponding author's full name, academic degree, affiliation, institutional email, telephone/WhatsApp number, and ORCID iD.
  • Complete funding/APC information, acknowledgments, conflicts of interest, ethics information, AI disclosure, and other required declarations.
  • Author names, order, affiliations, and contact details that exactly match the metadata entered in OJS.
  • Comments, tracked changes, hidden notes, and unused template instructions must be removed; do not anonymize the manuscript unless specifically requested by the editorial office.
What the Editorial Office Does
  • Retains the complete submitted manuscript as a confidential editorial record.
  • Creates a separate blinded review copy by removing or masking author names, affiliations, emails, ORCID iDs, contact details, acknowledgments, identifying declarations, and file metadata where necessary.
  • Uses neutral wording for an institution, ethics committee, study site, grant, or self-citation only when the information could reasonably reveal author identity.
  • Retains approval or protocol numbers and scientifically necessary information whenever possible.
  • Checks the blinded copy before allowing reviewers to access it.
  • Selects independent reviewers and ensures that reviewers receive only the blinded copy through the editorial system.
Additional files, when applicable: graphical abstract, supplementary material, reporting-guideline checklist, ethics approval documentation requested by the editor, and other supporting files. Upload each item using the correct OJS file category. These files are treated as confidential and will be anonymized by the editorial office if they must be shared with reviewers.
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Template and Formatting Requirements

Item Requirement
File format Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx); use the official JHNR template.
Original article length Suggested 3,500–5,000 words, excluding tables and figures.
Manuscript title Cambria 13 pt, bold; clear, concise, and informative. Avoid unnecessary institution names unless they are scientifically relevant.
Author and affiliation block Include the complete author line in the manuscript: names in Cambria 11 pt, bold; affiliations and author details in Cambria 10 pt.
Main text Cambria 10 pt with 1.15 line spacing, following the template's existing paragraph and heading styles.
Abstract 200–250 words; no citations; summarize purpose, methods, principal results, conclusion, and implications.
Keywords 3–6 specific terms that support accurate indexing and are not merely repetitions of the title.
Key Messages 2–5 concise points; preferably cover applicability, novelty, and impact.
References Vancouver style using Mendeley or Zotero; approximately 80% should be from the last 10 years; add DOI or stable URL where available.
Tables and figures Number consecutively, cite every item in the text, provide an informative title/caption, define abbreviations, and ensure the content is legible and accurate.
Before upload: delete all red instructional text, yellow highlights, sample statements that do not apply, example tables/charts, placeholder brackets, and unused guidance. Do not leave template instructions in the submitted manuscript.
Journal-production fields: authors should not complete or alter the volume, submission/acceptance/publication dates, DOI, copyright year, “Access this article online,” QR code, or other production-only elements. These are completed by the editorial office.
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Structure of an Original Research Article

Title

Use a clear, concise, academically appropriate title that accurately reflects the study design, population, exposure/intervention, or outcome where relevant. Avoid vague, promotional, overly long wording and unnecessary institution names.

Abstract

Write a standalone summary of 200–250 words covering the study purpose, essential methods, principal results with meaningful data, conclusion, and implications. Do not cite references or introduce unexplained abbreviations.

Keywords and Key Messages

Provide 3–6 keywords and 2–5 brief Key Messages. Key Messages should explain what is applicable, what is new, and why the findings matter; they should not simply repeat sentences from the abstract.

Graphical Abstract

When required or supplied, place the final graphical abstract in the designated template section. It must accurately represent the study, remain legible, and must not fabricate or alter scientific data. Remove the heading or placeholder only if permitted by the current journal instruction.

Introduction

Move logically through: (1) broad context and importance; (2) current evidence supported by key and recent citations; (3) the unresolved gap or problem; and (4) the study aim and main contribution. Avoid an unnecessarily long literature review.

Methods

Provide enough detail for scientific assessment and replication. Rename or remove template subheadings only when appropriate to the study design.

  • Study design: identify the design and explain its rationale where needed.
  • Setting and period: describe the setting, institution or location, and study dates accurately in the complete manuscript. The editorial office will mask identifying details in the review copy when necessary.
  • Population and sampling: eligibility criteria, sampling method, recruitment, and sample-size justification.
  • Variables and instruments: operational definitions; outcomes/exposures; instrument, manufacturer/source, validity, and software version where relevant.
  • Data collection: procedures, intervention/exposure details, quality control, and handling of missing data where relevant.
  • Statistical analysis: tests/models, assumptions, effect estimates, uncertainty, significance threshold, and software.
  • Ethical approval: provide the complete name of the committee or authorized body, approval or protocol number, and informed-consent or waiver information. The editorial office will mask identifying names in the review copy when necessary.

Use the relevant reporting guideline when applicable—for example, CONSORT for randomized trials, STROBE for observational studies, PRISMA for systematic reviews, CARE for case reports, or ARRIVE for animal research.

Results

Present findings clearly, logically, and in the same order as the objectives or analysis plan. Report all relevant results, not only statistically significant findings. Cite tables and figures consecutively in the text; avoid unnecessary duplication of the same data in text, tables, and figures.

Discussion

Begin with the principal findings, compare them critically with previous studies, explain plausible interpretations, discuss strengths and limitations, and state implications for practice, policy, or further research. Do not merely restate the Results section, and do not make claims beyond the study design and data.

Conclusion

Write a brief narrative conclusion—not bullet points—that directly answers the study aim, reflects the reported findings, and provides proportionate recommendations for practice and further research. Avoid unsupported generalization.

Declaration of the Use of AI

Select and adapt the single statement in the template that truthfully reflects the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technology, replace every bracketed placeholder, and delete all unused examples. AI tools cannot be authors, and authors remain responsible for accuracy, originality, citations, confidentiality, and the final content. If AI was used in research methods or analysis, also describe and validate that use in the Methods section.

Funding

Use either: “This research received no external funding” or “This research was funded by [NAME OF FUNDER], grant number [XXX].” State separately who funded the APC: “The APC was funded by [XXX].” Include the complete and accurate information in the submitted manuscript; the editorial office will mask identifying details in the blinded review copy when necessary.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledge administrative, technical, material, or other support that does not meet authorship criteria and is not already described under Funding. Obtain permission from named individuals where appropriate. Include the complete acknowledgment in the submitted manuscript; the editorial office will remove or mask it in the blinded review copy when necessary.

Conflicts of Interest

Disclose all actual or potential financial, personal, professional, or institutional conflicts. If none exist, state: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

Data Availability Statement

A Data Availability Statement is mandatory for articles published in the December 2026 issue and all subsequent issues. During the transition period, authors are encouraged to include it voluntarily. State where the supporting data can be found or explain any ethical, privacy, legal, contractual, or practical restriction.

References

Use Vancouver style consistently and manage citations with Mendeley or Zotero. Approximately 80% of references should be relevant literature published within the last 10 years. Verify every author, title, journal, year, volume, issue, page range, DOI, and URL. Submit complete references and write self-citations in the third person without revealing unnecessary authorship claims. The editorial office will mask a self-citation in the review copy only when it could clearly reveal identity.

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Final Pre-Submission Checklist

✓The manuscript is original, has not been published, and is not under consideration elsewhere.
✓The topic fits the current JHNR Focus and Scope and the correct article type was selected.
✓The official template was used without changing its page setup or section order.
✓One complete manuscript containing all author information and required declarations was prepared; no separate Title Page or anonymized Main Manuscript is required.
✓All instructions, highlights, examples, placeholders, comments, and tracked changes were removed.
✓The abstract is 200–250 words; keywords and Key Messages meet the stated limits.
✓Every table and figure is numbered, cited in order, legible, and supported by accurate data.
✓Ethics approval, consent, funding, conflicts, AI use, and data availability are reported where applicable.
✓References are verified, current, relevant, in Vancouver style, and include DOI/URL where available.
✓The manuscript has been checked for clear academic English, logical flow, and unsupported claims.
✓OJS title, abstract, keywords, author order, affiliations, emails, and ORCID iDs match the complete submitted manuscript.
✓At least two potential reviewers—with name, affiliation, and email—are suggested in “Comments to the Editor”; suggested reviewers should be independent and free of conflicts.
Originality screening: all submissions are checked with plagiarism-detection software before peer review. The overall similarity should comply with the JHNR policy and should not exceed 25%. Plagiarism or self-plagiarism may result in rejection regardless of the numerical similarity score.

Related Policies and Author Resources

Authors should read the policies relevant to their study before submission.

These guidelines support manuscript preparation and initial screening but do not guarantee peer review, acceptance, or publication.

Copyright Notice

Journal of Health and Nutrition Research

Copyright Notice

Copyright ownership, publication rights, and permitted reuse of articles published by JHNR.

Author-Retained Copyright Open Access CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Ownership
Authors retain copyright
Access
Published articles are openly accessible
Reuse
Noncommercial reuse with attribution and ShareAlike
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Article Copyright

When an article is published in the Journal of Health and Nutrition Research (JHNR), the author(s) retain the copyright in their work. Copyright is not transferred to the journal or publisher.

Authors may reuse or republish their article, including as part of a book, thesis, institutional repository, teaching material, or another scholarly work, provided that the original JHNR publication is appropriately acknowledged and its DOI or permanent article link is included where available.

The published full-text PDF displays the applicable copyright and license statement. JHNR publishes and maintains the version of record made available on the journal website.

Author responsibility: Authors must ensure that they hold the necessary rights to all text, data, tables, figures, photographs, illustrations, and other material included in the article, or that valid permission has been obtained for any third-party content.
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Article License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Unless otherwise indicated, all articles published by JHNR are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

This license permits sharing and adaptation for noncommercial purposes, provided that appropriate attribution is given and adaptations are distributed under the same or a compatible license.

BY
Attribution
NC
NonCommercial
SA
ShareAlike
4.0
International
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You Are Free To

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Share

Copy and redistribute the licensed material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes.

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Adapt

Remix, transform, translate, or build upon the material for noncommercial purposes.

These freedoms cannot be revoked as long as the user follows the applicable license terms.
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Under the Following Terms

Attribution (BY)
Give appropriate credit to the author(s), cite the original article and source, provide a link to the license, and indicate whether changes were made. Attribution must not imply that the author(s), JHNR, or publisher endorses the reuse.
NonCommercial (NC)
The material may not be used primarily for commercial advantage or monetary compensation under this license. Commercial reuse requires separate permission from the relevant copyright holder(s).
ShareAlike (SA)
If the material is remixed, transformed, translated, or otherwise adapted and the adaptation is shared, the contribution must be distributed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 or a compatible license.
No Additional Restrictions
Do not impose additional legal terms or effective technological measures that prevent others from exercising the rights permitted by the license.
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Recommended Attribution

Example for reuse of an unchanged article:

[Author(s)]. “[Article Title].” Journal of Health and Nutrition Research, [Year], [Volume(Issue)], [Pages]. DOI: [DOI]. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

For adapted or translated material, also add:

Adapted/translated from the original. Changes were made. The adaptation is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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Notices and Limitations

  • You do not have to comply with the license for material in the public domain or when your use is permitted by an applicable copyright exception or limitation.
  • The license applies only to rights that the copyright holder is authorized to license. Patent, trademark, privacy, publicity, confidentiality, moral, database, or other rights may still apply.
  • Third-party material included in an article may be excluded from the Creative Commons license when a separate copyright notice or credit line states different terms. Permission may be required directly from the relevant rights holder.
  • No warranties are given. Users are responsible for determining whether additional permission is required for their intended reuse.
  • This page summarizes the principal license conditions for convenience. It does not replace the complete Creative Commons legal code.

Read the Official License

For authoritative terms, consult the official Creative Commons license deed and legal code.

Authors retain copyright. Published articles are openly available under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 unless otherwise indicated.

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The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.