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Review
. 2020 Aug 6;21(16):5642.
doi: 10.3390/ijms21165642.

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

Mariarosaria Boccellino  1 , Stefania D'Angelo  1   2
Affiliations
Review

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

Mariarosaria Boccellino et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

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.

Keywords: antioxidants; inflammation; lifestyle; obesity; oxidative stress; polyphenols.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The main pathologies deriving from obesity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Causes and consequences of obesity with weight loss strategies.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Polyphenols classification.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The major sources of curcumin and its chemical structure (keto form).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Chemical structure and major sources of quercetin.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Chemical structure and major sources of resveratrol.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Some anti-obesity effects of polyphenols intake.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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