Carrillo, A. E., & Vliora, M. (2023). Adipose Tissue Metabolism in Response to Food Intake. Nutrients, 15(22), 4811. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224811
The quality and quantity of the food we consume have a major impact on our general health and longevity. Western dietary trends include an abundance of calories and refined sugars that contribute to adipose tissue accumulation, dysregulated adipose tissue function, and an increased risk of chronic disease [1]. Adipose tissue, once regarded simply as an
energy reservoir, is now recognized as a dynamic organ that finely tunes its metabolic activities in response to various dietary inputs [2]. This Special Issue in Nutrients, “Food Intake and Adipose Tissue Metabolism” aims to create a collection of scientific papers that explore how the relationship between food intake and adipose tissue metabolism influence general health, including chronic disease risk and longevity. Furthermore, enhancing our ability to navigate the complex interactions existing between food intake and adipose tissue has important implications for public and personalized health.
The macronutrient composition of food has a strong influence on adipose tissue metabolism. High-carbohydrate diets, especially those rich in refined sugars, can lead to insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation. Conversely, diets emphasizing unsaturated fats and whole grains promote adipose tissue health [1]. Proteins, through their thermogenic effect and role in muscle preservation, influence adiposity and metabolic rate. Other studies have investigated particular food compounds that have been shown to influence adipocyte function and chronic disease risk. For example, an article published by Nakadate et al. [3] in this Special Issue investigates adipocyte size and function in obese mice following a four-week treatment period of tea catechin and citrus β-cryptoxanthin— a citrus-derived polyphenol. The authors report an overall reduction in adipocyte size, reduced inflammation (i.e., tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin six), and normalized
adiponectin following the treatment period, concluding that the combined ingestion of tea catechin and citrus β-cryptoxanthin improves adipocyte function…
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