Researchers from a number of organisations in The Netherlands – including Maastricht University Medical Center, Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Wageningen University and Netherlands Nutrigenomics Centre – believe that resveratrol may be effective in combating obesity.
Polyphenolic compounds, such as resveratrol, have recently received widespread interest because of their ability to mimic effects of calorie restriction, the researners noted. The objective of the study was to gain more insight into the effects of 30 days resveratrol supplementation on adipose tissue morphology and underlying processes.
Eleven healthy obese men were supplemented with placebo and resveratrol for 30 days (150 mg per day), separated by a 4-week washout period in a double-blind randomized crossover design. A postprandial abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsy was collected to assess adipose tissue morphology and gene expression using microarray analysis.
Resveratrol significantly decreased adipocyte size, with a shift toward a reduction in the proportion of large and very-large adipocytes and an increase in small adipocytes.
Microarray analysis revealed downregulation of Wnt and Notch signaling pathways and upregulation of pathways involved in cell cycle regulation after resveratrol supplementation, suggesting enhanced adipogenesis.
Furthermore, lysosomal/phagosomal pathway and transcription factor EB were upregulated reflecting an alternative pathway of lipid breakdown by autophagy.
The researchers said that further research is necessary to investigate whether resveratrol improves adipose tissue function.
The study was published in The American Journal of Obesity.
Polyphenolic compounds, such as resveratrol, have recently received widespread interest because of their ability to mimic effects of calorie restriction, the researners noted. The objective of the study was to gain more insight into the effects of 30 days resveratrol supplementation on adipose tissue morphology and underlying processes.
Eleven healthy obese men were supplemented with placebo and resveratrol for 30 days (150 mg per day), separated by a 4-week washout period in a double-blind randomized crossover design. A postprandial abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsy was collected to assess adipose tissue morphology and gene expression using microarray analysis.
Resveratrol significantly decreased adipocyte size, with a shift toward a reduction in the proportion of large and very-large adipocytes and an increase in small adipocytes.
Microarray analysis revealed downregulation of Wnt and Notch signaling pathways and upregulation of pathways involved in cell cycle regulation after resveratrol supplementation, suggesting enhanced adipogenesis.
Furthermore, lysosomal/phagosomal pathway and transcription factor EB were upregulated reflecting an alternative pathway of lipid breakdown by autophagy.
The researchers said that further research is necessary to investigate whether resveratrol improves adipose tissue function.
The study was published in The American Journal of Obesity.
