Research has suggested that many of the chronic human health conditions linked to obesity are due to this low-grade chronic inflammation. Therefore, the concept that reducing the chronic inflammation associated with obesity might help support normal health is receiving a good deal of attention from the scientific and medical communities. Two recent research studies explored the possibility that natural plant compounds with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might help suppress obesity-related chronic inflammation.
In the first obesity research study, investigators examined the effect of resveratrol on the production of inflammation-related chemicals from fat tissue[1]. Resveratrol is one of the main anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenol compounds found in red grapes. For this study, obesity researchers treated human fat tissue in order to produce an inflammatory response and then treated the fat tissue with resveratrol to determine if it could suppress this artificially induced inflammation. The study investigators reported that treating human fat tissue with resveratrol suppressed both the induced secretion of several inflammatory chemicals and the gene expression of these inflammatory chemicals.
A second obesity research study examined the impact of lycopene on the production of inflammation-related chemicals from fat tissue[2]. Lycopene is the chemical responsible for the red/orange color of many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes. To evaluate this possible relationship, investigators cultured fat tissue collected from mice fed a high-fat diet as well as human fat cells. The obesity researchers reported that treatment of fat cells, both mice and human, with lycopene suppressed both the normal production of chemicals involved with inflammation and the artificially stimulated production of these inflammation chemicals.
Both of these cell culture studies suggest that natural plant chemicals with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might be able to suppress the chronic inflammation associated with obesity. With the high rate of obesity and the link between obesity, inflammation, and human health, methods to reduce obesity-related inflammation could be very beneficial. Additional studies will be needed to determine if natural plant chemicals like resveratrol and lycopene can have the same anti-inflammatory benefits when consumed and how much is needed in the diet to obtain these possible benefits. Fortunately, many of these natural chemicals are found in fruits and vegetables, giving us additional reasons to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. In addition to being sources of some of these anti-inflammatory chemicals, fruits and vegetables are nutrient rich and low in calories, making them and essential part of a healthy, well balanced diet.
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