Background

Inducible brown adipocytes called beige adipocytes are found in white adipose tissue (WAT) depots. They express functional UCP1 and have thermogenic fat-burning capacities as also found in classical brown adipocytes in response to various stimuli. Beige adipocytes may also secrete certain factors that affect WAT function and systemic metabolism. Therefore, a white-to-brown fat conversion could be a novel therapeutic avenue for tackling obesity and metabolic disorders.

Scope and approach

In this review, we examine the evidence supporting the concept that the anti-obesity action attributed to polyphenols might be contributed by their stimulation of WAT browning, and discuss the possible underlying mechanisms involved in this action.

Key findings and conclusions

Current evidence, mostly derived from animal models, strongly supports that dietary polyphenols may play roles in the browning of WAT. Studies also show multiple signaling pathways, receptors, and transcription factors have been associated with the browning effects of dietary polyphenols. In conclusion, polyphenol compounds and their principal metabolites may contribute to counteracting human obesity via promoting WAT browning.

中文翻译：

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膳食多酚使脂肪“变成褐色”：对可能机制的叙述性综述

背景

在白色脂肪组织（WAT）库中发现了可诱导的棕色脂肪细胞，称为米色脂肪细胞。它们表达功能性UCP1，并具有生热的脂肪燃烧能力，这也是经典的棕色脂肪细胞对各种刺激的反应。米色的脂肪细胞也可能分泌某些影响WAT功能和全身代谢的因子。因此，从白到棕的脂肪转化可能是解决肥胖和代谢紊乱的一种新的治疗途径。

范围和方法

在这篇综述中，我们研究了证据支持多酚的抗肥胖作用可能是由于其刺激WAT褐变而引起的，并讨论了该作用可能涉及的潜在机制。

主要发现和结论

当前的证据主要来自动物模型，强烈支持饮食中的多酚可能在WAT褐变中起作用。研究还表明，多种信号途径，受体和转录因子与膳食多酚的褐变作用有关。总之，多酚化合物及其主要代谢产物可能通过促进WAT褐变来抵抗人类肥胖。