Functional food targeting the regulation of obesity-induced inflammatory responses and pathologies

Mediators Inflamm. 2010:2010:367838. doi: 10.1155/2010/367838. Epub 2010 May 25.

Abstract

Obesity is associated with a low-grade systemic chronic inflammatory state, characterized by the abnormal production of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipocytokines. It has been found that immune cells such as macrophages can infiltrate adipose tissue and are responsible for the majority of inflammatory cytokine production. Obesity-induced inflammation is considered a potential mechanism linking obesity to its related pathologies, such as insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes, and some immune disorders. Therefore, targeting obesity-related inflammatory components may be a useful strategy to prevent or ameliorate the development of such obesity-related diseases. It has been shown that several food components can modulate inflammatory responses in adipose tissue via various mechanisms, some of which are dependent on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), whereas others are independent on PPARgamma, by attenuating signals of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and/or c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK). In this review, we introduce the beneficial effects of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that can help prevent obesity-induced inflammatory responses and pathologies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipokines / immunology
  • Adipose Tissue / immunology
  • Animals
  • Functional Food*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation* / diet therapy
  • Inflammation* / etiology
  • Inflammation* / immunology
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Obesity* / complications
  • Obesity* / immunology
  • Obesity* / pathology
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Adipokines
  • PPAR gamma
  • Plant Extracts