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Natural compounds regulate energy metabolism by the modulating the activity of lipid-sensing nuclear receptors

Tsuyoshi Goto1, Young-Il Kim, Nobuyuki Takahashi

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Function of Food, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Uji 611-0011, Japan.

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
|November 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Obesity leads to metabolic issues. This review explores how food compounds interacting with nuclear receptors can manage obesity and related energy metabolism disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Metabolic research
  • Nutritional science
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Obesity causes fat accumulation, leading to metabolic abnormalities in tissues like adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms of obesity-induced metabolic disorders are still under investigation, driving the search for new therapies.
  • Nuclear receptors play a crucial role in regulating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism transcriptionally.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on obesity and its associated metabolic abnormalities.
  • To elucidate the role of lipid-sensing nuclear receptors in energy metabolism.
  • To highlight food-derived compounds that modulate nuclear receptor activity for potential therapeutic benefits.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of obesity and metabolic abnormalities.
  • Analysis of the function of lipid-sensing nuclear receptors in energy homeostasis.
  • Identification and categorization of natural compounds acting as nuclear receptor agonists/antagonists.

Main Results:

  • Obesity is linked to significant metabolic dysfunction.
  • Lipid-sensing nuclear receptors are key regulators of metabolic pathways.
  • Various natural compounds from food sources can influence nuclear receptor activity.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding nuclear receptor function is vital for managing obesity-related metabolic disorders.
  • Dietary factors acting on nuclear receptors offer potential therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research into these food-derived compounds could lead to novel obesity management approaches.

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