Flavonoids as antiobesity agents: A review

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Obesity is a global health crisis with increasing prevalence across all age groups.
• Obesity leads to severe comorbidities like cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, causing significant health and economic burdens.
• Current antiobesity pharmacotherapies have limitations due to adverse effects or low efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the modulatory effects of flavonoids on obesity.
• To explore the potential mechanisms of action through which flavonoids combat obesity.
• To highlight future perspectives for flavonoid-based antiobesity pharmacological use.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating flavonoids and obesity.
• Analysis of in vitro and in vivo models demonstrating flavonoid efficacy.
• Examination of proposed mechanisms of action for flavonoid-induced weight management.

Main Results:

• Flavonoids demonstrate significant effects in lowering body weight, fat mass, and plasma lipids.
• Observed effects include reduced food intake, decreased fat absorption, and increased energy expenditure.
• Flavonoids modulate lipid metabolism and positively influence gut microbiota composition.

Conclusions:

• Flavonoids exhibit potent antiobesity effects through diverse biological mechanisms.
• Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective flavonoid-based obesity treatments.
• Flavonoids represent a promising natural product class for future pharmacological interventions against obesity.