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Targeting mTOR Signaling by Dietary Polyphenols in Obesity Prevention

Yunyun Cao1, Shuai Han1, Han Lu1

  • 1Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Grain-Oil Deep Process and Quality Control, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Forestry Edible Resources Safety and Processing, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Processed Food for Special Medical Purpose, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China.

Nutrients
|December 11, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Dietary polyphenols show promise in combating obesity by targeting the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. This review explores how polyphenols modulate lipid metabolism and adipogenesis to reduce obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Molecular Biology
  • Metabolic Disease Research

Background:

  • Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder linked to chronic diseases.
  • Dietary polyphenols exhibit anti-obesity properties by influencing fat cell development and lipid metabolism.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms underlying polyphenol's anti-obesity effects, particularly involving the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the current research on dietary polyphenols' role in obesity prevention via the mTOR signaling pathway.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms through which polyphenols exert anti-obesity effects by targeting mTOR.
  • To provide insights into the therapeutic potential of polyphenols for obesity management.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating dietary polyphenols, mTOR signaling, and obesity.
  • Analysis of research detailing polyphenol interactions with cellular pathways involved in metabolism and adipogenesis.
  • Examination of studies exploring the influence of polyphenols on gut microbiota and their subsequent impact on mTOR signaling.

Main Results:

  • Dietary polyphenols can inhibit pre-adipocyte proliferation, adipocyte differentiation, and triglyceride accumulation.
  • Polyphenols stimulate lipolysis and fatty acid beta-oxidation.
  • Polyphenols modulate the mTOR signaling pathway through various mechanisms, including influencing lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, and inflammation, and interacting with gut microbiota.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary polyphenols offer a promising strategy for obesity prevention by targeting the mTOR signaling pathway.
  • Understanding polyphenol-mTOR interactions provides valuable insights into novel anti-obesity mechanisms.
  • This research highlights the therapeutic potential of polyphenols in managing obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Keywords:
dietary polyphenolsmTORobesitysignal pathway

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