Bioactive compounds with effects on inflammation markers in humans

Abstract

Obesity and other chronic diseases are accompanied by adipose tissue, liver, pancreas, muscle and brain low-grade chronic inflammation. Indeed, the obese condition and metabolic syndrome are characterized by an increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and infiltration of immune cells in adipocytes. The inflammatory response promotes the activation of transcriptional factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can lead to an unresolved inflammatory response associated with an inhibition of insulin signalling and high risk for cardiovascular events. Epidemiological and intervention studies have been carried out to find out dietary patterns, foods and bioactive compounds with protective anti-inflammatory actions. The most studied compounds are polyphenols, especially isoflavone and anthocyanin, but quercertin, catechin and resveratrol have also been investigated. Furthermore, some studies have reported the effects of milk peptides, plant sterol and stanol, l-carnitine and α-lipoic acid on inflammatory processes. This review aimed to collect and discuss those relevant studies reported in the scientific literature following a systematic scientific search about the effect of such bioactive compounds on inflammation in humans.

Keywords::

• inflammation
• bioactive compounds
• functional foods
• polyphenols
• bioactive peptides
• review

Declaration of interest: Thanks are given to CAPES Foundation of the Ministry of Education of the Government of Brazil and to Carolina Foundation, Spain, which provided a financial support to Rosa FT and also to the Línea Especial/97 of the University of Navarra and to CIBER and RETICS (PREDIMED) networks of the Ministry of Health and Consumption of the Government of Spain. The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.