Abstract
In recent years, microalgae have attracted great interest for their potential applications in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industry as an interesting source of bioactive medicinal products and food ingredients with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. One potential application for bioactive microalgae compounds is obesity treatment. This review gathers together in vitro and in vivo studies which address the anti-obesity effects of microalgae extracts. The scientific literature supplies evidence supporting an anti-obesity effect of several microalgae: Euglena gracilis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Spirulina maxima, Spirulina platensis, or Nitzschia laevis. Regarding the mechanisms of action, microalgae can inhibit pre-adipocyte differentiation and reduce de novo lipogenesis and triglyceride (TG) assembly, thus limiting TG accumulation. Increased lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation can also be observed. Finally, microalgae can induce increased energy expenditure via thermogenesis activation in brown adipose tissue, and browning in white adipose tissue. Along with the reduction in body fat accumulation, other hallmarks of individuals with obesity, such as enhanced plasma lipid levels, insulin resistance, diabetes, or systemic low-grade inflammation are also improved by microalgae treatment. Not only the anti-obesity effect of microalgae but also the improvement of several comorbidities, previously observed in preclinical studies, has been confirmed in clinical trials.
Highlights
Microalgae are prokaryotic or eukaryotic microscopic single-cell organisms, found in fresh water and marine systems
While it decreases TG plasma levels at the medium dose (PE-M group), when it was added at a high dose (PE-H group) a decrease in LDL-cholesterol fraction was reported. In addition to these studies, Kim et al [16] studied the effect of the same microalgae in C57BL/6 mice. They observed that neither body weight increase, nor food intake were changed along the treatment period, perirrenal and epididymal adipose depot weights were significantly decreased by the Phaeodactylum tricornutum extract
Data reported in the literature, and gathered in the present review, show that there is scientific evidence supporting the anti-obesity effect of several microalgae: Euglena gracilis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Spirulina maxima, Spirulina platensis, and Nitzschia laevis
Summary
Microalgae are prokaryotic or eukaryotic microscopic single-cell organisms, found in fresh water and marine systems. It is important to emphasize that the chemical composition of microalgae depends on the species and the cultivation conditions, such as temperature, illumination, pH, CO2 supply, salt, and nutrients [1,2]. They have attracted great interest in recent years due to their potential applications in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, and are a major source of bioactive medicinal products and food ingredients with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties [2,3]. Depending on patient tolerability to side effects, poor adherence or discontinuation can be treatment limitations This situation reduces treatment benefits [7]. The present review gathers in vitro and in vivo studies addressed to analyze the anti-obesity effects of microalgae extracts, but not those where isolated microalgae compounds have been used
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 call
