Nutrition, Bioenergetics, and Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global nutrition report shows that whilst part of the world’s population starves, the other part suffers from obesity and associated complications. A balanced diet counterparts these extreme conditions with the proper proportion, composition, quantity, and presence of macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds. However, little is known on the way these components exert any influence on our health. These nutrients aiming to feed our bodies, our tissues, and our cells, first need to reach mitochondria, where they are decomposed into CO2 and H2O to obtain energy. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and mainly responsible for nutrients metabolism, but they are also the main source of oxidative stress and cell death by apoptosis. Unappropriated nutrients may support mitochondrial to become the Trojan horse in the cell. This review aims to provide an approach to the role that some nutrients exert on mitochondria as a major contributor to high prevalent Western conditions including metabolic syndrome (MetS), a constellation of pathologic conditions which promotes type II diabetes and cardiovascular risk. Clinical and experimental data extracted from in vitro animal and cell models further demonstrated in patients, support the idea that a balanced diet, in a healthy lifestyle context, promotes proper bioenergetic and mitochondrial function, becoming the best medicine to prevent the onset and progression of MetS. Any advance in the prevention and management of these prevalent complications help to face these challenging global health problems, by ameliorating the quality of life of patients and reducing the associated sociosanitary burden.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Aging Men

“…As it is known, several markers have been proposed in order to measure biological rather than chronological aging [ 6 ], unless we are far from having specific and reliable biomarkers of biological aging, several molecules and pathways have been described as possible biomarkers of senescence. Amongst these different biomarkers some have been related to metabolic deregulation and associated to high metabolic risk profiles as telomeres length [ 7 8 ], DNA epigenetic modifications [ 9 ], and mitochondrial dysfunction [ 10 ].…”

Reappraisal of Dietary Phytochemicals for Coronavirus Infection: Focus on Hesperidin and Quercetin

“…A constellation of risk factors for cardiovascular disease is called metabolic syndrome (MetS), whose determining factors are, in order of importance: weight, genetics, ageing and lifestyle [154]. The criteria for defining MetS are based on the presence of 3 out of 5 factors, including obesity, elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL-C, elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting glucose [155].…”

“…It has been shown that individuals with these characteristics are also commonly prone to a chronic, low-grade inflammatory states. Oxidative stress phenomena are also involved in MetS, probably due to the disturbance of the nutrient metabolism at the mitochondrial level [154].…”

Pathological and Pharmacological Roles of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species in Malignant Neoplasms: Therapies Involving Chemical Compounds, Natural Products, and Photosensitizers

“…Dysregulation of mitochondrial function by various internal and external stimuli leads to suppression of energy supply and induction of apoptosis. UV radiation and laser irradiation are the most representative external stimuli in such pathological processes [ 128 , 129 ]. UV and laser irradiation promote oxidative stress by enhancing ROS production [ 130 , 131 ].…”