Chapter 39 - Role of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and spices in the management of metabolic syndrome and related disorders

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MS), also known as syndrome X, is characterized by a group of interconnected pathophysiological conditions such as central obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, increased risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke. Collectively, all of these comorbid conditions predispose the individuals to high risk for morbidity and mortality. MS is also associated with microglobulinuria and chronic kidney problems, dementia and cognitive decline, depression and insomnia. The treatment strategies include pharmacotherapy (insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs), and non-pharmacological interventions such as nutraceuticals and functional foods, which have shown fair degree of effectiveness in the management of MS. Because of the high prices of synthetic drugs, there is a growing demand for cost-effective, affordable, safe and effective alternative therapies for curing the MS related complications. Active research is going on to evaluate the long-term safety, efficacy, and dose schedules of nutraceuticals, functional foods, antioxidant and antiinflammation phytotherapies for the management of MS and associated disorders. The results of different in vitro and in vivo studies done with nutraceuticals, functional foods, probiotics, spices, and herbal remedies, such as Trigonella foenum-graceum, Camellia sinensis, Cinnamomum cassia, Murraya koenigii, Punicagranatum, Emblica officinalis, Vigna mungo, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Curcuma longa, and Capsaicin have demonstrated beneficial effects in combating obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and CVDs triggered by oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. In addition, conjugated linoleic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, alpha-lipoic acid, berberine, psyllium fibers, L-carnitine, bovine colostrum, and probiotics have proven useful in the management of MS. Regular physical activity plays an important role in lowering the blood sugar and triglyceride levels, increasing HDL, and reducing LDL in the body. A holistic approach may be the most cost-effective method for health promotion and prevention of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, obesity, CVDs, cardiometabolic syndrome, and neurodegenerative disorders. However, well-designed randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials are needed to determine the long-term safety, efficacy and optimal dose of nutraceuticals and phytotherapies in patients suffering from MS. The focus of this review is to highlight the beneficial role of nutraceuticals, functional foods, probiotics, and spices for the management of MS by providing evidence from the preclinical studies, and limited number of clinical trials done with phytotherapies and nutraceuticals.