Effects of Polyphenol Intake on Metabolic Syndrome: Current Evidences from Human Trials

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors which severely increases the risk of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several epidemiological studies have observed a negative association between polyphenol intake and MetS rates. Nevertheless, there are relatively small numbers of interventional studies evidencing this association. This review is focused on human interventional trials with polyphenols as polyphenol-rich foods and dietary patterns rich in polyphenols in patients with MetS. Current evidence suggests that polyphenol intake has the potential to alleviate MetS components by decreasing body weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose and by improving lipid metabolism. Therefore, high intake of polyphenol-rich foods such as nuts, fruits, vegetables, seasoning with aromatic plants, spices, and virgin olive oil may be the cornerstone of a healthy diet preventing the development and progression of MetS, although there is no polyphenol or polyphenol-rich food able to influence all MetS features. However, inconsistent results have been found in different trials, and more long-term randomized trials are warranted to develop public health strategies to decrease MetS rates.

Metabolomics Elucidates Dose-Dependent Molecular Beneficial Effects of Hesperidin Supplementation in Rats Fed an Obesogenic Diet

“…Despite this, epidemiological evidence highlights the importance of the consumption of fruits and vegetables. In particular, plant polyphenols have emerged as potential effective nutritional strategies for improving the health of patients with MetS [7,8]. Among the wide variety of dietary polyphenols, hesperidin, which is a flavanone glycoside found abundantly in citrus fruits, has shown a promising role against CVD due to their antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties [9][10][11].…”

Flavonoid Profiles of Two New Approved Romanian Ocimum Hybrids

“…Polyphenol compounds of the plant origin have been shown to exert antioxidant effects [ 24 ]. Any compound, in low concentrations compared with those of an oxidizable substrate which presents significantly delays or prevents oxidation of the substrate is an antioxidant [ 25 ].…”

Therapeutic Effects of Lithospermate B Complexed with Mg2+ or Zn2+ on Metabolic Syndrome Induced in Rats Fed with High-Fat Diet

“…Metabolic syndrome is associated with a cluster of pathological conditions, such as low-grade chronic inflammation and oxidation states [28,29]. Polyphenolic compounds, the most widely distributed secondary metabolites in plants, show biological activities in the alleviation of the chronic inflammation and oxidation states [30].…”