Polyphenols and Fish Oils for Improving Metabolic Health: A Revision of the Recent Evidence for Their Combined Nutraceutical Effects

Abstract

Polyphenols and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oils, i.e., eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, are well-recognized nutraceuticals, and their single antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been demonstrated in several studies found in the literature. It has been reported that the combination of these nutraceuticals can lead to three-fold increases in glutathione peroxidase activity, two-fold increases in plasma antioxidant capacity, decreases of 50–100% in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and urinary 8-isoprotanes, as well as 50–200% attenuation of common inflammation biomarkers, among other effects, as compared to their individual capacities. Therefore, the adequate combination of those bioactive food compounds and their single properties should offer a powerful tool for the design of successfully nutritional interventions for the prevention and palliation of a plethora of human metabolic diseases, frequently diet-induced, whose etiology and progression are characterized by redox homeostasis disturbances and a low-grade of chronic inflammation. However, the certain mechanisms behind their biological activities, in vivo interaction (both between them and other food compounds), and their optimal doses and consumption are not well-known yet. Therefore, we review here the recent evidence accumulated during the last decade about the cooperative action between polyphenols and fish oils against diet-related metabolic alterations, focusing on the mechanisms and pathways described and the effects reported. The final objective is to provide useful information for strategies for personalized nutrition based on these nutraceuticals.

Taurine Attenuates Oxidized Fish Oil-Induced Oxidative Stress and Lipid Metabolism Disorder in Mice

“…These findings led us to hypothesize that taurine could serve as a healthy additive in fish oil dietary supplements. Moreover, some polyphenols exhibit potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, allowing them to show synergistic, additive, or complementary effects with fish oil [ 71 , 72 , 73 ]. Further work is needed to determine how these nutraceuticals interact with each other in vivo and their primary mechanisms of action.…”

Polyphenols and ω-3 PUFAs: Beneficial Outcomes to Obesity and Its Related Metabolic Diseases

“…Likewise, polyphenols are absorbed in the intestine after being hydrolyzed by intestine enzymes and the host's microbiota ( 126 ). Then, the resulting molecules can interact with free radicals and inhibit enzymes involved in the AA pathway, modulating the inflammatory response and blocking the AA pathway ( 14 ). Besides that, endothelial cells are also being stimulated by both products from polyphenols and ω-3 PUFAs metabolization to produce NO and H 2 S in the first case, which will aid the resolution of the inflammatory situation and the tissue regeneration, or trigger signaling cascades by interacting with cell membrane receptors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or blocking p-AKT, NF-κB, and MMP-9 activities ( 122 , 127 ).…”

“…In addition, several studies have reported a decrease in obesity and its RMDs due to consumption of vegetables (leaves, seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetable oils, by-products) and fish (mainly marine fish, oils, byproducts) rich in polyphenols and ω-3 PUFAs: ALA, EPA, and DHA (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Furthermore, obesity and its RMDs lowering can be explained by consequence of synergistic actions of polyphenols and ω-3 PUFAs improving several metabolic health pathways (14,15). Due to the synergistic actions of the polyphenols and ω-3 PUFAs, some products that are found, like fish and vegetables, and their by-products can potentially improve and control obesity and its RMDs as anti-glucose tolerance, anti-oxidative, anti-atherosclerosis, antiinflammation, anti-weight gain, hepato-protective, vascularprotective, cardiovascular-protective, anti-hypertension, antidiabetic effects, thus improving the human health (13,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21).…”

Polyphenols and Human Beings: From Epidemiology to Molecular Targets

“…Diverse methodological approaches are used to delve into the molecular mechanisms subjacent to polyphenol effects, including assays in specialized cell lines [ 16 , 17 ], microorganisms [ 18 ], model organisms such as the nematode C. elegans [ 19 ], or mice models [ 20 ], as well as molecular docking studies upon potential target proteins [ 20 ], involving distinct polyphenols, either as pure compounds [ 19 ] or diverse and complex phenolic mixtures [ 16 , 18 , 20 , 21 ]. In addition, interactions with non-phenolic bioactives, such as cannabinoids [ 17 , 22 ], humulones and lupulones [ 22 ], or polyunsaturated fatty acids [ 23 ] are explored.…”

“…The published papers describe a range of activities for polyphenols, including antioxidant [ 19 , 23 ], anti-inflammatory [ 20 , 24 ], anticancer [ 21 ], neuropreventive [ 16 ], analgesic and antipyretic [ 20 ], estrogenic [ 22 ], and antiviral [ 18 ]. Further, the therapeutic potential of this family of compounds for the prevention or treatment of distinct human diseases, beyond their recognized cardiovascular protective effect, is shown, such as for bowel disorders [ 25 ], breast cancer [ 21 ], prostatic hyperplasia [ 24 ], and ocular degenerative diseases [ 26 ].…”