Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2023) | Viewed by 25832

Special Issue Editor

College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 24 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Soeul 02447, Republic of Korea
Interests: obesity; high-fat diet; brown adipocytes; AMP-activated protein kinase; adipogenesis; thermogenesis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive adiposity that impairs health. Obesity not only increases the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and fatty liver diseases but also produces a chronic inflammatory state which leads to many complications. Recent studies have demonstrated that increased fat deposition in obesity may play a role in or be a result of excessive oxidative stress in the body.

Antioxidants derived from nature can modulate oxidative stress. Natural antioxidants are widely distributed in food and medicinal plants. These natural antioxidants exhibit a wide range of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antiaging, antiobesity, and anticancer. The consumption of natural antioxidants can ameliorate damage caused by oxidative stress through inhibiting the oxidative chain reaction by acting as free radical scavengers.

Thus, the search for these natural antioxidants will provide an advance in therapeutic interventions for obesity and related diseases. Understanding of the mechanism of action of natural antioxidants in redox modulation could be useful to prevent or develop therapies for obesity and related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver diseases, inflammatory diseases, or even cancer.

In this Special Issue, we warmly invite reviews and original articles on multidisciplinary approaches to obesity, especially by focusing on the antioxidant properties of natural products. We will highlight the molecular mechanisms of the antioxidants involved in the prevention of obesity-related diseases.

Dr. Jinbong Park
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • obesity
  • metabolic diseases
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • fatty liver diseases
  • inflammatory diseases
  • cancer
  • antioxidants
  • oxidative stress
  • natural products
  • phytochemicals

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

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6 pages, 229 KiB  
Editorial
Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases
by Hyo In Kim and Jinbong Park
Antioxidants 2023, 12(11), 1966; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12111966 - 05 Nov 2023
Viewed by 879
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive adiposity that impairs health [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

17 pages, 3305 KiB  
Article
Multi-Organ Nutrigenomic Effects of Dietary Grapes in a Mouse Model
by Asim Dave, Eun-Jung Park and John M. Pezzuto
Antioxidants 2023, 12(10), 1821; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12101821 - 01 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1217
Abstract
As a whole food, the potential health benefits of table grapes have been widely studied. Some individual constituents have garnered great attention, particularly resveratrol, but normal quantities in the diet are meniscal. On the other hand, the grape contains hundreds of compounds, many [...] Read more.
As a whole food, the potential health benefits of table grapes have been widely studied. Some individual constituents have garnered great attention, particularly resveratrol, but normal quantities in the diet are meniscal. On the other hand, the grape contains hundreds of compounds, many of which have antioxidant potential. Nonetheless, the achievement of serum or tissue concentrations of grape antioxidants sufficient to mediate a direct quenching effect is not likely, which supports the idea of biological responses being mediated by an indirect catalytic-type response. We demonstrate herein with Hsd:ICR (CD-1® Outbred, 18–24 g, 3–4 weeks old, female) mice that supplementation of a semi-synthetic diet with a grape surrogate, equivalent to the human consumption of 2.5 servings per day for 12 months, modulates gene expression in the liver, kidney, colon, and ovary. As might be expected when sampling changes in a pool of over 35,000 genes, there are numerous functional implications. Analysis of some specific differentially expressed genes suggests the potential of grape consumption to bolster metabolic detoxification and regulation of reactive oxygen species in the liver, cellular metabolism, and anti-inflammatory activity in the ovary and kidney. In the colon, the data suggest anti-inflammatory activity, suppression of mitochondrial dysfunction, and maintaining homeostasis. Pathway analysis reveals a combination of up- and down-regulation in the target tissues, primarily up-regulated in the kidney and down-regulated in the ovary. More broadly, based on these data, it seems logical to conclude that grape consumption leads to modulation of gene expression throughout the body, the consequence of which may help to explain the broad array of activities demonstrated in diverse tissues such as the brain, heart, eye, bladder, and colon. In addition, this work further supports the profound impact of nutrigenomics on mammalian phenotypic expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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29 pages, 6447 KiB  
Article
Rhythm and ROS: Hepatic Chronotherapeutic Features of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Treatment in Cafeteria Diet-Fed Rats
by Antonio J. Cortés-Espinar, Néstor Ibarz-Blanch, Jorge R. Soliz-Rueda, Béatrice Bonafos, Christine Feillet-Coudray, François Casas, Francisca Isabel Bravo, Enrique Calvo, Javier Ávila-Román and Miquel Mulero
Antioxidants 2023, 12(8), 1606; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12081606 - 12 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1106
Abstract
Polyphenols play a key role in the modulation of circadian rhythms, while the cafeteria diet (CAF) is able to perturb the hepatic biological rhythm and induce important ROS production. Consequently, we aimed to elucidate whether grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) administration recovers the [...] Read more.
Polyphenols play a key role in the modulation of circadian rhythms, while the cafeteria diet (CAF) is able to perturb the hepatic biological rhythm and induce important ROS production. Consequently, we aimed to elucidate whether grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) administration recovers the CAF-induced hepatic antioxidant (AOX) misalignment and characterize the chronotherapeutic properties of GSPE. For this purpose, Fischer 344 rats were fed a standard diet (STD) or a CAF and concomitantly treated with GSPE at two time-points (ZT0 vs. ZT12). Animals were euthanized every 6 h and the diurnal rhythms of hepatic ROS-related biomarkers, hepatic metabolites, and AOX gene expression were examined. Interestingly, GSPE treatment was able to recover the diurnal rhythm lost due to the CAF. Moreover, GSPE treatment also increased the acrophase of Sod1, as well as bringing the peak closer to that of the STD group. GSPE also corrected some hepatic metabolites altered by the CAF. Importantly, the differences observed at ZT0 vs. ZT12 due to the time of GSPE administration highlight a chronotherapeutic profile on the proanthocyanin effect. Finally, GSPE could also reduce diet-induced hepatic oxidative stress not only by its ROS-scavenging properties but also by retraining the circadian rhythm of AOX enzymes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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14 pages, 5304 KiB  
Article
The Beneficial Effect of Lomitapide on the Cardiovascular System in LDLr−/− Mice with Obesity
by Undral Munkhsaikhan, Young In Kwon, Amal M. Sahyoun, María Galán, Alexis A. Gonzalez, Karima Ait-Aissa, Ammaar H. Abidi, Adam Kassan and Modar Kassan
Antioxidants 2023, 12(6), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12061287 - 16 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1735
Abstract
Objectives: Homozygous familial hypercholesteremia (HoFH) is a rare, life-threatening metabolic disease, mainly caused by a mutation in the LDL receptor. If untreated, HoFH causes premature death from acute coronary syndrome. Lomitapide is approved by the FDA as a therapy to lower lipid levels [...] Read more.
Objectives: Homozygous familial hypercholesteremia (HoFH) is a rare, life-threatening metabolic disease, mainly caused by a mutation in the LDL receptor. If untreated, HoFH causes premature death from acute coronary syndrome. Lomitapide is approved by the FDA as a therapy to lower lipid levels in adult patients with HoFH. Nevertheless, the beneficial effect of lomitapide in HoFH models remains to be defined. In this study, we investigated the effect of lomitapide on cardiovascular function using LDL receptor-knockout mice (LDLr/). Methods: Six-week-old LDLr/ mice were fed a standard diet (SD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Lomitapide (1 mg/Kg/Day) was given by oral gavage for the last 2 weeks in the HFD group. Body weight and composition, lipid profile, blood glucose, and atherosclerotic plaques were measured. Vascular reactivity and markers for endothelial function were determined in conductance arteries (thoracic aorta) and resistance arteries (mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA)). Cytokine levels were measured by using the Mesoscale discovery V-Plex assays. Results: Body weight (47.5 ± 1.5 vs. 40.3 ± 1.8 g), % of fat mass (41.6 ± 1.9% vs. 31.8 ± 1.7%), blood glucose (215.5 ± 21.9 vs. 142.3 ± 7.7 mg/dL), and lipid levels (cholesterol: 600.9 ± 23.6 vs. 451.7 ± 33.4 mg/dL; LDL/VLDL: 250.6 ± 28.9 vs. 161.1 ± 12.24 mg/dL; TG: 299.5 ± 24.1 vs. 194.1 ± 28.1 mg/dL) were significantly decreased, and the % of lean mass (56.5 ± 1.8% vs. 65.2 ± 2.1%) was significantly increased in the HFD group after lomitapide treatment. The atherosclerotic plaque area also decreased in the thoracic aorta (7.9 ± 0.5% vs. 5.7 ± 0.1%). After treatment with lomitapide, the endothelium function of the thoracic aorta (47.7 ± 6.3% vs. 80.7 ± 3.1%) and mesenteric resistance artery (66.4 ± 4.3% vs. 79.5 ± 4.6%) was improved in the group of LDLr/ mice on HFD. This was correlated with diminished vascular endoplasmic (ER) reticulum stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Conclusions: Treatment with lomitapide improves cardiovascular function and lipid profile and reduces body weight and inflammatory markers in LDLr/ mice on HFD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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15 pages, 5024 KiB  
Article
Standardized Sanguisorba officinalis L. Extract Inhibits Adipogenesis and Promotes Thermogenesis via Reducing Oxidative Stress
by Yulong Zheng, So-Yeon Lee, Yeji Lee, Tae-Kyeong Lee, Ji Eun Kim, Tae Hyeon Kim and Il-Jun Kang
Antioxidants 2023, 12(4), 882; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12040882 - 04 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1520
Abstract
Obesity produces many health problems, including systemic oxidative stress. This study comprehensively investigated the effects of Sanguisorba officinalis L. extract (SO) as an antioxidant on abnormal lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice (n = [...] Read more.
Obesity produces many health problems, including systemic oxidative stress. This study comprehensively investigated the effects of Sanguisorba officinalis L. extract (SO) as an antioxidant on abnormal lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice (n = 48). We evaluated the anti-adipogenic and antioxidant effects of SO on 3T3-L1 by cell viability, Oil red O staining, and NBT assays. The ameliorative effects of SO in HFD-induced C57BL/6J mice were investigated by measuring body weight, serum lipids, adipocyte size, hepatic steatosis, AMPK pathway-related proteins, and thermogenic factors. In addition, the effect of SO on oxidative stress in obese mice was evaluated by the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the production of lipid peroxidation products and ROS production in adipose tissue. We found that SO dose-dependently decreased lipid accumulation and ROS production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In C57BL/6J obese mice, SO (above 200 mg/kg) attenuated the HFD-induced gain in body weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) weight without affecting appetite. SO also decreased serum glucose, lipid, and leptin levels and attenuated adipocyte hypertrophy and hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, SO increased the expression of SOD1 and SOD2 in WAT, decreased ROS and lipid peroxides, and activated the AMPK pathway and thermogenic factors. In summary, SO reduces oxidative stress in adipose tissue by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and improves obesity symptoms through AMPK-pathway-regulated energy metabolism and mitochondrial respiratory thermogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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29 pages, 1857 KiB  
Article
Combined Intake of Fish Oil and D-Fagomine Prevents High-Fat High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Prediabetes by Modulating Lipotoxicity and Protein Carbonylation in the Kidney
by Lucía Méndez, Silvia Muñoz, Lorena Barros, Bernat Miralles-Pérez, Marta Romeu, Sara Ramos-Romero, Josep Lluís Torres and Isabel Medina
Antioxidants 2023, 12(3), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12030751 - 19 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1513
Abstract
Obesity has been recognized as a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease, insulin resistance being an early common metabolic feature in patients suffering from this syndrome. This study aims to investigate the mechanism underlying the induction of kidney dysfunction and the concomitant [...] Read more.
Obesity has been recognized as a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease, insulin resistance being an early common metabolic feature in patients suffering from this syndrome. This study aims to investigate the mechanism underlying the induction of kidney dysfunction and the concomitant onset of insulin resistance by long-term high-fat and sucrose diet feeding in Sprague Dawley rats. To achieve this goal, our study analyzed renal carbonylated protein patterns, ectopic lipid accumulation and fatty acid profiles and correlated them with biometrical and biochemical measurements and other body redox status parameters. Rats fed the obesogenic diet developed a prediabetic state and incipient kidney dysfunction manifested in increased plasma urea concentration and superior levels of renal fat deposition and protein carbonylation. An obesogenic diet increased renal fat by preferentially promoting the accumulation of saturated fat, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic fatty acids while decreasing oleic acid. Renal lipotoxicity was accompanied by selectively higher carbonylation of proteins involved in the blood pH regulation, i.e., bicarbonate reclamation and synthesis, amino acid, and glucose metabolisms, directly related to the onset of insulin resistance. This study also tested the combination of antioxidant properties of fish oil with the anti-diabetic properties of buckwheat D-Fagomine to counteract diet-induced renal alterations. Results demonstrated that bioactive compounds combined attenuated lipotoxicity, induced more favorable lipid profiles and counteracted the excessive carbonylation of proteins associated with pH regulation in the kidneys, resulting in an inhibition of the progression of the prediabetes state and kidney disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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15 pages, 1227 KiB  
Article
Beneficial Effects of Viable and Heat-Inactivated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Administration on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Diet-Induced NAFLD in Rats
by Laura Arellano-García, Jenifer Trepiana, J. Alfredo Martínez, María P. Portillo and Iñaki Milton-Laskibar
Antioxidants 2023, 12(3), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12030717 - 14 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1975
Abstract
Oxidative stress and inflammation are well-known triggers of NAFLD onset and progression. The aim of this study is to compare the potential benefits of a viable probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) and its parabiotic (heat-inactivated) on oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage and cell [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress and inflammation are well-known triggers of NAFLD onset and progression. The aim of this study is to compare the potential benefits of a viable probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) and its parabiotic (heat-inactivated) on oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage and cell death pathways in the liver of rats featuring diet-induced NAFLD. The consumption of the steatotic diet led to increased final body and liver weights, higher hepatic triacylglycerol content, altered serum transaminase levels and enhanced oxidative and inflammatory status. Administration of the probiotic and the parabiotic partially prevented the body weight increase induced by the steatotic diet, whereas the probiotic caused more effective decreasing hepatic triglyceride content. Sharp but nonstatistically significant decreases in serum transaminase levels were also observed for both treatments. The reduction in antioxidant enzyme activities found in the nontreated animals fed the steatotic diet was partially prevented by both treatments (GPx activity). Similarly, the reductions in nonenzymatic antioxidant protection (GSH content) and total antioxidant capacity (ORAC) found in the nontreated rats were restored by the administration of both treatments. These results show that both viable and heat-inactivated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG administration partially prevent steatotic diet-induced liver oxidative stress and inflammation induced in rats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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20 pages, 4138 KiB  
Article
Anmyungambi Decoction Ameliorates Obesity through Activation of Non-Shivering Thermogenesis in Brown and White Adipose Tissues
by Woo Yong Park, Gahee Song, Mina Boo, Hyo In Kim, Ja Yeon Park, Se Jin Jung, Minji Choi, Beomsu Kim, Young Doo Kim, Myung-Ho Kim, Kwan-Il Kim, Hyun Jeong Kwak, Jungtae Leem, Jae-Young Um and Jinbong Park
Antioxidants 2023, 12(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12010049 - 26 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1758
Abstract
Obesity is a burden to global health. Non-shivering thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) is a novel strategy for obesity treatment. Anmyungambi (AMGB) decoction is a multi-herb decoction with clinical anti-obesity effects. Here, we show the effects of [...] Read more.
Obesity is a burden to global health. Non-shivering thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) is a novel strategy for obesity treatment. Anmyungambi (AMGB) decoction is a multi-herb decoction with clinical anti-obesity effects. Here, we show the effects of AMGB decoction using high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL6/J mice. All four versions of AMGB decoction (100 mg/kg/day, oral gavage for 28 days) suppressed body weight gain and obesity-related blood parameters in the HFD-fed obese mice. They also inhibited adipogenesis and induced lipolysis in inguinal WAT (iWAT). Especially, the AMGB-4 with 2:1:3:3 composition was the most effective; thus, further studies were performed with the AMGB-4 decoction. The AMGB-4 decoction displayed a dose-dependent body weight gain suppression. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and blood glucose decreased as well. In epididymal WAT, iWAT, and BAT, the AMGB-4 decoction increased lipolysis markers. Additionally, the AMGB-4 decoction-fed mice showed an increased non-shivering thermogenic program in BAT and iWAT. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppressed antioxidative factors induced by the HFD feeding were also altered to normal levels by the AMGB-4 decoction treatment. Overall, our study supports the clinical use of AMGB decoction for obesity treatment by studying its mechanisms. AMGB decoction alleviates obesity through the activation of the lipolysis–thermogenesis program and the elimination of pathological ROS in thermogenic adipose tissues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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19 pages, 2427 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Baccharis trimera Leaf Extract Suppresses Lipid Accumulation in C. elegans Dependent on Transcription Factor NHR-49
by Flávia Roberta Monteiro Souza, Giovanna Melo Martins Silva, Cesar Orlando Muñoz Cadavid, Lucas dos Santos Lisboa, Maylla Maria Correia Leite Silva, Weslley Souza Paiva, Marcelo José Pena Ferreira, Riva de Paula Oliveira and Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha
Antioxidants 2022, 11(10), 1913; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11101913 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1898
Abstract
Obesity is a global public health problem that is associated with oxidative stress. One of the strategies for the treatment of obesity is the use of drugs; however, these are expensive and have numerous side effects. Therefore, the search for new alternatives is [...] Read more.
Obesity is a global public health problem that is associated with oxidative stress. One of the strategies for the treatment of obesity is the use of drugs; however, these are expensive and have numerous side effects. Therefore, the search for new alternatives is necessary. Baccharis trimera is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of obesity. Here, B. trimera leaf extract (BT) showed antioxidant activity in seven in vitro tests, and it was not toxic to 3T3 murine fibroblasts or Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, BT reduces the intracellular amount of reactive oxygen species and increases C. elegans survival. Moreover, these effects were not dependent on transcription factors. The inhibition of fat accumulation by BT in the C. elegans model was also investigated. BT reduced lipid accumulation in animals fed diets without or with high amount of glucose. Furthermore, it was observed using RNA interference (iRNA) that BT depends on the transcription factor NHR-49 to exert its effect. Phytochemical analysis of BT revealed rutin, hyperoside, and 5-caffeoylquinic acid as the main BT components. Thus, these data demonstrate that BT has antioxidant and anti-obesity effects. However, further studies should be conducted to understand the mechanisms involved in its action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

26 pages, 2078 KiB  
Review
The Impact of Punica granatum Linn and Its Derivatives on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Endothelial Function in Diabetes Mellitus: Evidence from Preclinical and Clinical Studies
by Kabelo Mokgalaboni, Sanele Dlamini, Wendy N. Phoswa, Perpetua Modjadji and Sogolo L. Lebelo
Antioxidants 2023, 12(8), 1566; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12081566 - 04 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1238
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is recognized as the leading contributor to cardiovascular disease and associated mortality rates worldwide. Despite the use of pharmaceutical drugs to treat diabetes, its prevalence continues to rise alarmingly. Therefore, exploring remedies with a lower toxicity profile is crucial while remaining [...] Read more.
Diabetes mellitus is recognized as the leading contributor to cardiovascular disease and associated mortality rates worldwide. Despite the use of pharmaceutical drugs to treat diabetes, its prevalence continues to rise alarmingly. Therefore, exploring remedies with a lower toxicity profile is crucial while remaining safe and effective in addressing this global public health crisis. Punica granatum Linn (pomegranate), known for its properties and safety profile, has been investigated in applied research and preclinical and clinical trials. However, conflicting reports still exist regarding its effects in diabetes. According to our knowledge, no systematic review has been conducted to critically analyze evidence from preclinical and clinical trials simultaneously, explicitly focusing on oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial function in diabetes. Therefore, in this systematic review, we searched for evidence on the impact of pomegranate in diabetes using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Our inclusion criteria were limited to studies published in English. Of the 170 retrieved studies, 46 were deemed relevant and underwent critical analysis. The analyzed evidence suggests that pomegranate has the potential to alleviate oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. Although a beneficial impact was noted in these markers, the endothelial function evidence still requires validation through further clinical trials with a powered sample size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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23 pages, 2814 KiB  
Review
Unraveling Obesity: Transgenerational Inheritance, Treatment Side Effects, Flavonoids, Mechanisms, Microbiota, Redox Balance, and Bioavailability—A Narrative Review
by Ruth Naomi, Soo Huat Teoh, Shariff Halim, Hashim Embong, Zubaidah Hasain, Hasnah Bahari and Jaya Kumar
Antioxidants 2023, 12(8), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12081549 - 03 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1312
Abstract
Obesity is known as a transgenerational vicious cycle and has become a global burden due to its unavoidable complications. Modern approaches to obesity management often involve the use of pharmaceutical drugs and surgeries that have been associated with negative side effects. In contrast, [...] Read more.
Obesity is known as a transgenerational vicious cycle and has become a global burden due to its unavoidable complications. Modern approaches to obesity management often involve the use of pharmaceutical drugs and surgeries that have been associated with negative side effects. In contrast, natural antioxidants, such as flavonoids, have emerged as a promising alternative due to their potential health benefits and minimal side effects. Thus, this narrative review explores the potential protective role of flavonoids as a natural antioxidant in managing obesity. To identify recent in vivo studies on the efficiency of flavonoids in managing obesity, a comprehensive search was conducted on Wiley Online Library, Scopus, Nature, and ScienceDirect. The search was limited to the past 10 years; from the search, we identified 31 articles to be further reviewed. Based on the reviewed articles, we concluded that flavonoids offer novel therapeutic strategies for preventing obesity and its associated co-morbidities. This is because the appropriate dosage of flavonoid compounds is able to reduce adipose tissue mass, the formation of intracellular free radicals, enhance endogenous antioxidant defences, modulate the redox balance, and reduce inflammatory signalling pathways. Thus, this review provides an insight into the domain of a natural product therapeutic approach for managing obesity and recapitulates the transgenerational inheritance of obesity, the current available treatments to manage obesity and its side effects, flavonoids and their sources, the molecular mechanism involved, the modulation of gut microbiota in obesity, redox balance, and the bioavailability of flavonoids. In toto, although flavonoids show promising positive outcome in managing obesity, a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the advantageous impacts of flavonoids—achieved through translation to clinical trials—would provide a novel approach to inculcating flavonoids in managing obesity in the future as this review is limited to animal studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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25 pages, 993 KiB  
Review
Sarcopenic Obesity: Involvement of Oxidative Stress and Beneficial Role of Antioxidant Flavonoids
by Un Ju Jung
Antioxidants 2023, 12(5), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12051063 - 08 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3583
Abstract
Sarcopenic obesity, which refers to concurrent sarcopenia and obesity, is characterized by decreased muscle mass, strength, and performance along with abnormally excessive fat mass. Sarcopenic obesity has received considerable attention as a major health threat in older people. However, it has recently become [...] Read more.
Sarcopenic obesity, which refers to concurrent sarcopenia and obesity, is characterized by decreased muscle mass, strength, and performance along with abnormally excessive fat mass. Sarcopenic obesity has received considerable attention as a major health threat in older people. However, it has recently become a health problem in the general population. Sarcopenic obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome and other complications such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, liver disease, lung disease, renal disease, mental disease and functional disability. The pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity is multifactorial and complicated, and it is caused by insulin resistance, inflammation, hormonal changes, decreased physical activity, poor diet and aging. Oxidative stress is a core mechanism underlying sarcopenic obesity. Some evidence indicates a protective role of antioxidant flavonoids in sarcopenic obesity, although the precise mechanisms remain unclear. This review summarizes the general characteristics and pathophysiology of sarcopenic obesity and focuses on the role of oxidative stress in sarcopenic obesity. The potential benefits of flavonoids in sarcopenic obesity have also been discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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52 pages, 1756 KiB  
Review
The Effect of Bioactive Aliment Compounds and Micronutrients on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
by Camelia Munteanu and Betty Schwartz
Antioxidants 2023, 12(4), 903; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12040903 - 10 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2566
Abstract
In the current review, we focused on identifying aliment compounds and micronutrients, as well as addressed promising bioactive nutrients that may interfere with NAFLD advance and ultimately affect this disease progress. In this regard, we targeted: 1. Potential bioactive nutrients that may interfere [...] Read more.
In the current review, we focused on identifying aliment compounds and micronutrients, as well as addressed promising bioactive nutrients that may interfere with NAFLD advance and ultimately affect this disease progress. In this regard, we targeted: 1. Potential bioactive nutrients that may interfere with NAFLD, specifically dark chocolate, cocoa butter, and peanut butter which may be involved in decreasing cholesterol concentrations. 2. The role of sweeteners used in coffee and other frequent beverages; in this sense, stevia has proven to be adequate for improving carbohydrate metabolism, liver steatosis, and liver fibrosis. 3. Additional compounds were shown to exert a beneficial action on NAFLD, namely glutathione, soy lecithin, silymarin, Aquamin, and cannabinoids which were shown to lower the serum concentration of triglycerides. 4. The effects of micronutrients, especially vitamins, on NAFLD. Even if most studies demonstrate the beneficial role of vitamins in this pathology, there are exceptions. 5. We provide information regarding the modulation of the activity of some enzymes related to NAFLD and their effect on this disease. We conclude that NAFLD can be prevented or improved by different factors through their involvement in the signaling, genetic, and biochemical pathways that underlie NAFLD. Therefore, exposing this vast knowledge to the public is particularly important. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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23 pages, 424 KiB  
Review
Effects of Microalgae on Metabolic Syndrome
by Kartthigeen Tamel Selvan, Jo Aan Goon, Suzana Makpol and Jen Kit Tan
Antioxidants 2023, 12(2), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12020449 - 10 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2277
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disturbances, including abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and hyperglycemia. Adopting a healthier lifestyle and multiple drug-based therapies are current ways to manage MetS, but they have limited efficacy, albeit the prevalence [...] Read more.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disturbances, including abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and hyperglycemia. Adopting a healthier lifestyle and multiple drug-based therapies are current ways to manage MetS, but they have limited efficacy, albeit the prevalence of MetS is rising. Microalgae is a part of the human diet and has also been consumed as a health supplement to improve insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and several components of MetS. These therapeutic effects of microalgae are attributed to the bioactive compounds present in them that exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects. Therefore, studies investigating the potential of microalgae in alleviating MetS are becoming more popular, but a review on this topic remains scarce. In this review, we discuss the effects of microalgae, specifically on MetS, by reviewing the evidence from scientific literature covering in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition, we also discuss the underlying mechanisms that modulate the effects of microalgae on MetS, and the limitations and future perspectives of developing microalgae as a health supplement for MetS. Microalgae supplementation is becoming a viable approach in alleviating metabolic disturbances and as a unique addition to the management of MetS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Antioxidants in Obesity and Related Diseases)
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