Anti-obesity Effects of Anti-inflammatory Polyphenols

Abstract

Accumulation of abnormal or excessive adipose tissue which poses a health risk is defined as obesity. Microenvironment of adipose tissue changes in obesity. Hypertrophy, infiltration of immune cells, hypoxia, and fibrosis as micro environmental changes have been occurring as a result of excessive lipid accumulation of adipocytes. Obesity associated inflammation basically depends on micro environmental changes of adipose tissue and dietary polyphenols can modify adipose tissue microenvironment against obesity. Various polyphenols are secondary plant metabolites, characterized as a phenolic compound. Polyphenols associated to obesity via anti-inflammatory roles are flavonoids, phenolic acids and non-flavonoids. Cell culture (especially 3T3-L1 adipocytes) and animal (especially C57BL/6J mice) studies indicated that polyphenols have anti-obesity effects via anti-inflammatory pathways. Mainly resveratrol and catechins have extensive studies on anti-obesity effects of anti-inflammatory polyphenols. In spite of this there is a lack of clinical studies to demonstrating the antiinflammatory response of those polyphenols. Furthermore, bioavailability of polyphenols in human need is required to be considered to clarify their interactions and effects. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016.