Nutraceuticals and Herbal Food Supplements for Weight Loss: Is There a Prebiotic Role in the Mechanism of Action?

Abstract

Numerous nutraceuticals and botanical food supplements are used with the intention of modulating body weight. A recent review examined the main food supplements used in weight loss, dividing them according to the main effects for which they were investigated. The direct or indirect effects exerted on the intestinal microbiota can also contribute to the effectiveness of these substances. The aim of this review is to evaluate whether any prebiotic effects, which could help to explain their efficacy or ineffectiveness, are documented in the recent literature for the main nutraceuticals and herbal food supplements used for weight loss management. Several prebiotic effects have been reported for various nutraceutical substances, which have shown activity on Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzi, Roseburia spp., and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Different prebiotics have beneficial effects on weight and the related metabolic profile, in some cases even acting on the microbiota with mechanisms that are completely independent from those nutraceuticals for which certain products are normally used. Further studies are necessary to clarify the different levels at which a nutraceutical substance can exert its action.

Special Issue “Gut Microbioma Structure and Functions in Human Health and Disease 2.0”: Editorial

“…They demonstrated that among Buddhists and Muslims, the Prevotella enterotype dominates the gut microbiome, while in people of other religions, including Christians, the Bacteroides enterotype is the most common [ 15 ]. This is mainly due to the food components that characterize the different diets, especially based on their fibre content, which was also confirmed by the review proposed by Bertuccioli et al [ 16 ].…”

Nutraceuticals: An inspiring therapy for lifestyle diseases

“…Corn also contains cryptoxanthin, a naturally occurring carotenoid pigment. Regular use of cryptoxanthin has been proven to reduce the incidence of lung cancer by 27% [35].…”

“…As a worldwide epidemic, obesity can be defined as excessive body fat. Heart disease, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, respiratory illness, osteoarthritis, cancer, and infertility are all well-known risk factors [35,36].…”

Beta‐glucan suppresses high‐fat‐diet‐induced obesity by attenuating dyslipidemia and modulating obesogenic marker expressions in rats

“…Alternative therapies resulting from nutraceuticals or natural products have achieved more attention, and particular dietary components have been utilized to restrain obesity and its associated disorders. [12][13][14] Beta-glucan (BG) is one of the key active components of mushrooms and of other sources like yeast, cereals, and grass. 15 BG is a dietary fiber readily found and is a relatively inexpensive byproduct, and it is added to foods on the assumption that this will contribute to health benefits.…”

“…Alternative therapies resulting from nutraceuticals or natural products have achieved more attention, and particular dietary components have been utilized to restrain obesity and its associated disorders 12–14 . Beta‐glucan (BG) is one of the key active components of mushrooms and of other sources like yeast, cereals, and grass 15 .…”