The role of reactive oxygen species in obesity therapeutics

Abstract

Obesity is a major risk factor for multiple severe health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. It is often related to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality and, as it can be accompanied by non-fatal health problems, quality of life is seriously reduced due to related conditions including hypertension, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, respiratory problems and infertility. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress is related to obesity and its complications. In obese patients, there is an increase in levels of reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species and antioxidant defenses are undermined in comparison to normal-weight counterparts. In addition, these parameters inversely correlate with central adiposity. In this review, the authors discuss current concepts concerning the relationship between obesity and oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment. Potential interventions to improve redox balance are also explored.

Keywords::

• antioxidants
• mitochondria
• obesity
• oxidative stress
• reactive oxygen species

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Brian Normanly for his editorial assistance.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by FIS. This study was financed by grants PI12/1984, PI13/1025, PI13/0073, CIBERehd CB06/04/0071, PROMETEO 2010/060 and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). VM Victor and M Rocha are recipients of contracts from the Ministry of Health of the Valencian Regional Government and Carlos III Health Institute (CES10/030 and CP10/0360, respectively). S Rovira-Llopis is recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from Carlos III Health Institute (FI11/00637). The authors have no other relevant affiliations of financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Obesity is a major risk factor for multiple severe health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer.

• Evidence suggests that oxidative stress is an important factor in the pathogenesis of obesity-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes.

• The mitochondrial electron transport chain is one of the main cellular sources of reactive oxygen species, which makes it an important target for protection against obesity and cardiovascular problems.

• Evidence endorses the causal role of high reactive oxygen species levels in the development of insulin resistance.

• Different strategies have been developed to prevent obesity and are focused mainly on lifestyle intervention, including diet and physical activity.

• Some clinical studies have evaluated the effects of physical activity, weight loss, dietary pattern and food components on redox balance. Weight loss associated with physical exercise seems to be one of the best approaches to reduce oxidative stress and risk in the obese population.

• We believe that the development of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant molecules is a future tool for the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases in general and obesity in particular.

Notes