Abstract
Over the past decades, obesity has become a rising health problem as the accessibility to high calorie, low nutritional value food has increased. Research shows that some bioactive components in fruits and vegetables, such as carotenoids, could contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity. Some of these carotenoids are responsible for vitamin A production, a hormone-like vitamin with pleiotropic effects in mammals. Among these effects, vitamin A is a potent regulator of adipose tissue development, and is therefore important for obesity. This review focuses on the role of the provitamin A carotenoid β-carotene in human health, emphasizing the mechanisms by which this compound and its derivatives regulate adipocyte biology. It also discusses the physiological relevance of carotenoid accumulation, the implication of the carotenoid-cleaving enzymes, and the technical difficulties and considerations researchers must take when working with these bioactive molecules. Thanks to the broad spectrum of functions carotenoids have in modern nutrition and health, it is necessary to understand their benefits regarding to metabolic diseases such as obesity in order to evaluate their applicability to the medical and pharmaceutical fields.
Highlights
Metabolic diseases are a growing cause of morbidity and mortality, becoming a heavy economic burden for patients and healthcare systems worldwide
While the role of vitamin A in adipocyte differentiation was previously established in cell culture [78], and some reports implicate this compound in adult mice [100], we designed an experiment in which vitamin A was supplemented at physiological doses during adipose tissue development in vivo
If too much vitamin A is administered during the proliferation stage of adipose tissue, this could lead to obesity later in life, while if retinoic acid is supplemented to mature adipocytes it will lead to weight loss [109]
Summary
Metabolic diseases are a growing cause of morbidity and mortality, becoming a heavy economic burden for patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Nutrients 2019, 11, 842 intervention is the foundation of weight loss therapy, as it is easier for most obese people to achieve a negative energy balance by decreasing food intake than just by increasing physical activity [13,14,15]. While fruits and vegetables promote weight loss thanks to their macronutrient composition (e.g., elevated fiber, water, and complex carbohydrates), we cannot dismiss their content in micronutrients with bioactive properties, some of which have documented effects on energy metabolism [17,18]. Among these micronutrients, carotenoids appear as potential candidates to prevent and treat obesity [19]. We will explore the mechanistic insights obtained from in vitro, cellular, and animal models, as well as observational and interventional studies in human subjects
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
