Title:Role of Dietary Polyphenols in Adipose Tissue Browning: A Narrative Review
Volume: 26
Issue: 35
Author(s): Juan Salazar*, Clímaco Cano, José L. Pérez, Ana Castro, María P. Díaz, Bermary Garrido, Rubén Carrasquero, Maricarmen Chacín, Manuel Velasco, Luis D´Marco, Joselyn Rojas-Quintero and Valmore Bermúdez
Affiliation:
- Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Research Center. School of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo,Venezuela
Keywords:
Polyphenols, obesity, thermogenesis, adipose tissue browning, energy expenditure, nutraceuticals.
Abstract: Lifestyle modifications such as energy restriction and increased physical activity are highly effective in
the management of obesity. However, adherence to these therapeutic approaches is poor. On the other hand, synthetic
drugs used for obesity control are plagued by adverse effects. Despite these failures, adipose tissue is still
an attractive therapeutic target for novel molecules, and thus, the characterisation of new and safer anti-obesity
drugs is of significant interest. For this reason, in recent years, phenolic constituents of diverse plants have drawn
much attention due to their health-promoting properties, opening new research lines related to brown adipose
tissue activation and white adipose tissue (WAT) browning. The goal is to increase energy expenditure levels
through thermogenic activity activation by multiple factors, like polyphenols. The suggested mechanisms by
which polyphenols can modulate thermogenesis include Nor-epinephrine/Catechol-O-Methyl-Transferase
(NE/COMT) inhibition, PPARγ co-activator alpha (PGC-1α)-dependent pathways activation, and mitochondrial
biogenesis, among others. Although polyphenols such as quercetin, catechins, chrysin, luteolin, curcumin, resveratrol,
gallic acid, and lignans have shown a positive effect on Non-Shivering Thermogenesis and WAT browning,
most of them have only been active in murine models or in vitro systems, and their reproducibility in humans
has to be proved. Probably in the future, an approach that includes these compounds as part of the nutritional
regimen in conjunction with physical exercise, pharmacological and surgical therapy, would allow modulating a
pathophysiological mechanism that is still elusive.