Specific dietary foods increase thermogenesis and metabolic fat burning.
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Peer-reviewed literature demonstrates that specific food-derived bioactive compounds, such as certain polyphenols, medium-chain triglycerides, and cinnamon phytonutrients, stimulate thermogenesis and enhance metabolic fatty acid oxidation.
Research indicates that green tea extract (GTE) supplementation is beneficial for a range of conditions, including several forms of cancer, CVD and liver diseases; nevertheless, the existing evidence addressing its effects on body composition, oxidative stress and obesity-related hormones is inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of GTE supplementation on body composition (body mass (BM), body fat percentage (BFP), fat mass (FM), BMI, waist circumference (WC)), obesity-related hormones (leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin) and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) markers. We searched proper databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus and Web of Science, up to July 2022 to recognise published randomised controlled trials (RCT) that investigated the effects of GTE supplementation on the markers mentioned above. A random effects model was used to carry out a meta-analysis. The heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I<sup>2</sup> index. Among the initial 11 286 studies identified from an electronic database search, fifty-nine studies involving 3802 participants were eligible to be included in this meta-analysis. Pooled effect sizes indicated that BM, BFP, BMI and MDA significantly reduced following GTE supplementation. In addition, GTE supplementation increased adiponectin and TAC, with no effects on FM, leptin and ghrelin. Certainty of evidence across outcomes ranged from low to high. Our results suggest that GTE supplementation can attenuate oxidative stress, BM, BMI and BFP, which are thought to negatively affect human health. Moreover, GTE as a nutraceutical dietary supplement can increase TAC and adiponectin.
This review comprehensively examines the role and mechanisms of Urolithin A (UroA), a gut microbial metabolite derived from dietary ellagitannins (ETs), in ameliorating obesity and related metabolic disorders. The <i>in vivo</i> production of UroA is strictly dependent on specific gut microbiota, and the substantial inter-individual variation in this metabolic capacity (UM phenotype) directly influences population responsiveness to ETs-rich dietary interventions. Mechanistically, UroA acts through multiple coordinated pathways: it activates thermogenesis in brown and beige adipose tissue to promote energy expenditure; bidirectionally regulates lipid metabolism by enhancing fatty acid oxidation while suppressing lipogenesis; remodels the immune microenvironment by polarizing macrophages toward the anti-inflammatory M2-like phenotype to alleviate chronic inflammation; and modulates gut microbiota composition at multiple taxonomic levels and regulates microbial tryptophan metabolism, alongside enhancing intestinal barrier integrity. These integrated effects collectively improve systemic insulin sensitivity, glucose homeostasis, and reduce lipid accumulation. Although preclinical evidence is robust, its efficacy in humans requires further validation through large-scale clinical trials. In summary, UroA represents a pivotal active molecule within the "diet-microbiota-host" interaction axis, offering a novel scientific rationale and a potential target for developing personalized nutritional strategies against obesity and other metabolic diseases.
Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in regulating metabolic health in humans, where both an excess and a deficiency can lead to chronic diseases. Bioactive compounds derived from food like polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, peptides, and fibers have been recognized as significant influencers of fat metabolism. They operate through various molecular and systemic pathways, facilitating either adiposity reduction or fat accumulation based on the physiological context. This review consolidates recent progress in comprehending the mechanisms through which these compounds affect lipolysis, adipogenesis, thermogenesis, and appetite regulation. We emphasize the collaborative effects that enhance bioactive efficacy and examine findings from clinical trials focused on obesity, cachexia, and sarcopenia. For example, co-administration of curcumin with piperine increased curcumin bioavailability up to 20-fold, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) combined with caffeine modestly enhanced 24-h energy expenditure by 4% in humans. Similarly, omega-3 fatty acids combined with vitamin D supplementation improved lean mass by 1.2 kg in sarcopenic adults in recent meta-analyses. New platforms in personalized nutrition-combining genomics, microbiome analysis, and AI-driven meal planning-present exciting opportunities for tailored applications. In conclusion, we address significant translational challenges and prospective pathways, focusing on enhancing bioavailability, standardizing outcomes, and ethically expanding personalized interventions. This work highlights the promise of bioactives as effective means for influencing adipose biology and enhancing metabolic health.
Weight-loss supplements typically fall into 1 of 4 categories depending on their hypothesized mechanism of action: products that block the absorption of fat or carbohydrate, stimulants that increase thermogenesis, products that change metabolism and improve body composition, and products that suppress appetite or give a sense of fullness. Each category is reviewed, and an overview of the current science related to their effectiveness is presented. While some weight-loss supplements produce modest effects (<2 kg weight loss), many have either no or few randomized clinical trials examining their effectiveness. A number of factors confound research results associated with the efficacy of weight-loss supplements, such as small sample sizes, short intervention periods, little or no follow-up, and whether the supplement is given in combination with an energy-restricted diet or increased exercise expenditure. There is no strong research evidence indicating that a specific supplement will produce significant weight loss (>2 kg), especially in the long term. Some foods or supplements such as green tea, fiber, and calcium supplements or dairy products may complement a healthy lifestyle to produce small weight losses or prevent weight gain over time. Weight-loss supplements containing metabolic stimulants (e.g., caffeine, ephedra, synephrine) are most likely to produce adverse side effects and should be avoided.
Novel triglycerides for special medical purposes. The clinical use of intravenous lipid emulsions have been routine for over 25 years. For most of that time period the use of the vegetable oils, soybean and safflower, were the exclusive lipid source for these emulsions. Recently intravenous medium-chain triglycerides have been commercially available. This review will discuss several important new research developments coming from the laboratory which should prove to enhance the nutritional effectiveness as well as minimize the adverse effects of lipid emulsions. The use of medium-chain triglycerides either enterally or parenterally has shown them to be superior energy sources when compared to long-chain triglycerides. Under experimental conditions of burn injury, their support of certain aspects of protein metabolism is superior to that of the current emulsions. This may be due to their rapid and preferential oxidation and poor storage into adipose tissue, and increased thermogenesis which has been observed from either enteral or parenteral administration in humans. This increased metabolic rate is not accompanied by an increase in temperature.
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