Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Obesity Properties of Food Bioactive Components: Effects on Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Obesity is an epidemic and costly disease affecting 13% of the adult population worldwide. Obesity is associated with adipose tissue hypertrophy and hyperplasia, as well as pathologic endocrine alterations of adipose tissue including local and chronic systemic low-grade inflammation. Moreover, this inflammation is a risk factor for both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance. Basic and clinical studies demonstrate that foods containing bioactive compounds are capable of preventing both obesity and adipose tissue inflammation, improving obesity-associated MetS in human subjects and animal models of obesity. In this review, we discuss the anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory protective effects of some bioactive polyphenols of plant origin and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, available for the customers worldwide from commonly used foods and/or as components of commercial food supplements. We review how these bioactive compounds modulate cell signaling including through the nuclear factor-κB, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, toll-like receptors, and G-protein coupled receptor 120 intracellular signaling pathways and improve the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators secreted by adipose tissue and subsequently lower systemic inflammation and risk for metabolic diseases.

Keywords: inflammation; obesity; omega-3 fatty acids; polyphenols.

Fig. 1

Summary of major signaling mechanisms mediating effects of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids and some polyphenols. Bioactive compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols discussed in this review modulate cell signaling including various mechanisms including the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), toll-like receptors (TLRs), and G-protein coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) intracellular signaling pathways. These effects lead to reduction of inflammation and possibly obesity and associated metabolic diseases. PGE, prostaglandin E; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; IL-6, interleukin-6; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; PPAR, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; FASN, fatty acid synthase.