Anti-Obesity Effects of Polyphenol Intake: Current Status and Future Possibilities

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has steadily increased worldwide over the past three decades. The conventional approaches to prevent or treat this syndrome and its associated complications include a balanced diet, an increase energy expenditure, and lifestyle modification. Multiple pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions have been developed with the aim of improving obesity complications. Recently, the use of functional foods and their bioactive components is considered a new approach in the prevention and management of this disease. Due to their biological properties, polyphenols may be considered as nutraceuticals and food supplement recommended for different syndromes. Polyphenols are a class of naturally-occurring phytochemicals, some of which have been shown to modulate physiological and molecular pathways involved in energy metabolism. Polyphenols could act in the stimulation of β-oxidation, adipocyte differentiation inhibition, counteract oxidative stress, etc. In this narrative review, we considered the association between polyphenols (resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, and some polyphenolic extracts) and obesity, focusing on human trials. The health effects of polyphenols depend on the amount consumed and their bioavailability. Some results are contrasting, probably due to the various study designs and lengths, variation among subjects (age, gender, ethnicity), and chemical forms of the dietary polyphenols used. But, in conclusion, the data so far obtained encourage the setting of new trials, necessary to validate benefic role of polyphenols in obese individuals.

Adipokines, Myokines, and Cardiokines: The Role of Nutritional Interventions

“…Moreover, recent results have shown that the effects of polyphenols-enriched diet could improve weight loss and metabolic state. In any case, not all the results described in the literature agree regarding the efficacy or the molecular target of the nutritional intervention based on the use of polyphenols [24]. This discrepancy is probably due to different chemical forms of polyphenols (8000 different compounds are known) but above all the innumerable study designs (i.e., in vitro, in animal models, with or without exercise) the dosage of polyphenols, and the duration of the treatment.…”

Annurca Apple Polyphenol Extract Affects Acetyl- Cholinesterase and Mono-Amine Oxidase In Vitro Enzyme Activity

“…Natural polyphenols from fruits and vegetables exert beneficial effects on human health due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]; they also behave as anticancer agents on various tumor cells [ 5 ]. Polyphenols are a group of naturally occurring phytochemicals characterized by the presence of multiple hydroxyl groups on aromatic rings, and are divided into two main categories—flavonoids and nonflavonoids—based on the number of phenol rings and the way in which these rings are linked.…”

Berberine for Appetite Suppressant and Prevention of Obesity

“…Recently, some studies have been shown both in vitro and in vivo to have potential use as an antiobesity agent [ 15 – 24 ]. Also, polyphenol intake has benefic role in obese individuals [ 25 ]. In the present study, we used a high-fat diet-induced obesity mice model to verify the inhibitory effects of berberine.…”