Plant Compounds Suppress Inflammation Markers

Obesity has been linked to a low level of chronic inflammation due to the production inflammation-related chemicals by fat cells.  Research has suggested that many of the chronic human health conditions linked to obesity are due to this low-grade chronic inflammation.  Therefore, the concept that reducing the chronic inflammation associated with obesity might help support normal health is receiving a good deal of attention from the scientific and medical communities.  Two recent research studies explored the possibility that natural plant compounds with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might help suppress obesity-related chronic inflammation.

In the first obesity research study, investigators examined the effect of resveratrol on the production of inflammation-related chemicals from fat tissue.  Resveratrol is one of the main anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenol compounds found in red grapes.  For this study, obesity researchers treated human fat tissue in order to produce an inflammatory response and then treated the fat tissue with resveratrol to determine if it could suppress this artificially induced inflammation.  The study investigators reported that treating human fat tissue with resveratrol suppressed both the induced secretion of several inflammatory chemicals and the gene expression of these inflammatory chemicals.

A second obesity research study examined the impact of lycopene on the production of inflammation-related chemicals from fat tissue.  Lycopene is the chemical responsible for the red/orange color of many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes.  To evaluate this possible relationship, investigators cultured fat tissue collected from mice fed a high-fat diet as well as human fat cells.  The obesity researchers reported that treatment of fat cells, both mice and human, with lycopene suppressed both the normal production of chemicals involved with inflammation and the artificially stimulated production of these inflammation chemicals. 

Both of these cell culture studies suggest that natural plant chemicals with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might be able to suppress the chronic inflammation associated with obesity.  With the high rate of obesity and the link between obesity, inflammation, and human health, methods to reduce obesity-related inflammation could be very beneficial.  Additional studies will be needed to determine if natural plant chemicals like resveratrol and lycopene can have the same anti-inflammatory benefits when consumed and how much is needed in the diet to obtain these possible benefits.  Fortunately, many of these natural chemicals are found in fruits and vegetables, giving us additional reasons to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.  In addition to being sources of some of these anti-inflammatory chemicals, fruits and vegetables are nutrient rich and low in calories, making them and essential part of a healthy, well balanced diet.

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Resveratrol Might Help Prevent Weight Gain

Resveratrol, an antioxidant phytochemical found in the skins of red grapes, red wine, and purple grape juice as well as other foods, has been implicated in a number of possible health benefits, particularly heart health.  Emerging research continues to suggest that resveratrol might have anti-obesity benefits.  In fact, one recent human cell culture study suggests that resveratrol modifies the growth, development, and function of human fat cells.  However, the vast majority of this research to date has been done in rodents or cell culture systems.

A new obesity research study (free to read) examined the potential weight control benefits of resveratrol in a non-human primate (grey mouse lemur) model of obesity.  For this study, obesity researchers fed resveratrol to the lemurs for 4 weeks during their winter period of natural weight gain.  Changes in body weight, food intake, metabolic rate, hormone profiles, daily activity, and more were examined.  The obesity researchers reported that:

• Weight gain was suppressed from about 6% to 1% after the addition of reseveratrol to the lemur's diet.
• Addition of resveratrol to the diet reduced overall food consumption by 13%
• The resting metabolic rate of the lemurs fed resveratrol for 4 weeks increased by 29%.

These are interesting results that continue to support the possible weight control benefits of resveratrol.  Based on this new animal study, resveratrol appears to support weight control by reducing food consumption and increasing metabolism, thereby altering the ratio of 'calories in' versus 'calories out' in a beneficial direction.  Since resveratrol did not have any impact on levels of gut hormones involved in appetite suppression, the reason for the reduction in food consumption appears uncertain in this study.

While the weight loss or weight control benefits of resveratrol continue to get a lot of attention, the actual research in human volunteers remains sparse.  However, one new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reports that resveratrol has anti-inflammatory actions in human subjects and according to ClinicalTrials.gov a number of resveratrol obesity-related studies are in progress.  Therefore, we might have a clearer picture of resveratrol's weight control benefits in the near future.  In the mean time, resveratrol appears to have possible anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits and can be found in a number of foods that can be included as part of a healthy diet.

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Anti-Obesity Potential of Resveratrol

Resveratrol is an antioxidant phytochemical found in the skins of red grapes, red wine, and purple grape juice as well as other food sources.  Research on the potential health benefits of resveratrol has been in full swing since it was suggested that red wine might be responsible for the "French Paradox", the concept that heart health remained high in France despite the prevalence of smoking and diets rich in saturated fats.  The research to date has suggested that resveratrol might have heart health benefits, cancer-fighting properties, and weight loss benefits; however, some of the mechanisms responsible for the possible health benefits of resveratrol remain uncertain.

New obesity research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the effect of resveratrol on human fat cell function.  Fat cells were used to study cell growth, cell differentiation, fat production, glucose uptake, and production of fat cell chemicals.  Treatment of human fat cells with resveratrol resulted in the inhibition of fat cell growth and differentiation, increased glucose uptake, a reduction in fat production, and a decease in the production of chemicals associated with inflammation.  Additionally, many of these changes were dependent on activation of Sirtuin1, a gene that reportedly has anti-obesity and anti-aging benefits.

Overall, this cell culture study suggests that resveratrol modifies the growth, development, and function of human fat cells.  Furthermore, these changes are such that the effects of resveratrol might reduce the risk of obesity and obesity-related health conditions.  While it appears that resveratrol and resveratrol-rich foods might have health and weight management benefits, research with human subjects needs to be done to determine if the benefits observed in cell culture and animals studies translates to human benefits.  Nonetheless, resveratrol-rich foods like red grapes and peanuts can be a healthy part of well balanced diet.

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