Diet-Derived Antioxidants and Their Role in Inflammation
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antioxidants Review Diet-Derived Antioxidants and Their Role in Inflammation, Obesity and Gut Microbiota Modulation Andrea Deledda 1 , Giuseppe Annunziata 2,* , Gian Carlo Tenore 2 , Vanessa Palmas 3, Aldo Manzin 3 and Fernanda Velluzzi 1 1 Obesity Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Ospedale San Giovanni di Dio, Via Ospedale 54, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; [email protected] (A.D.); [email protected] (F.V.) 2 Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; [email protected] 3 Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; [email protected] (V.P.); [email protected] (A.M.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-340-001-6504 Abstract: It is generally accepted that gut microbiota, inflammation and obesity are linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic/non-communicable pathological condi- tions, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and ageing-related disorders. In this scenario, oxidative stress plays a pivotal role. Evidence suggests that the global dietary patterns may represent a tool in counteracting oxidative stress, thus preventing the onset of diseases related to oxidative stress. More specifically, dietary patterns based on the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables Citation: Deledda, A.; Annunziata, (i.e., Mediterranean diet) have been licensed by various national nutritional guidelines in many G.; Tenore, G.C.; Palmas, V.; Manzin, countries for their health-promoting effects. Such patterns, indeed, result in being rich in specific A.; Velluzzi, F. Diet-Derived components, such as fiber, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, whose beneficial effects on human Antioxidants and Their Role in health have been widely reported. This suggests a potential nutraceutical power of specific dietary Inflammation, Obesity and Gut components. In this manuscript, we summarize the most relevant evidence reporting the impact of Microbiota Modulation. Antioxidants dietary antioxidants on gut microbiota composition, inflammation and obesity, and we underline 2021, 10, 708. https://doi.org/10.3390/ that antioxidants are implicated in a complex interplay between gut microbiota, inflammation and antiox10050708 obesity, thus suggesting their possible role in the development and modulation of chronic diseases Academic Editors: Gianluca Rizzo related to oxidative stress and in the maintenance of wellness. Do all roads lead to Rome? and Mauro Lombardo Keywords: inflammation; obesity; gut microbiota; oxidative stress; antioxidants; polyphenols; Received: 30 March 2021 ageing; nutraceutical Accepted: 25 April 2021 Published: 29 April 2021 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral 1. Introduction with regard to jurisdictional claims in Vegetables, particularly if they do not receive chemical/technological treatments, con- published maps and institutional affil- tain large amounts of substances with antioxidant properties that are capable of reducing iations. the negative effects of the redox processes which each cell undergoes due to its biochemical reactions. Therefore, vegetable-based diets, such as the Mediterranean diet [1], DASH [2] or even more restrictive ones such as vegetarian and vegan diets [3], are able to bring greater quantities of these substances than more common ones, such as the so called “cafeteria Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. diet” or a Western diet often undertaken by most people. The aforementioned diets could Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. be characterized by the presence of vegetable-derived foods which have lost some of their This article is an open access article antioxidant properties and are rich in “empty” calories due to their refined/industrially distributed under the terms and modified form; moreover, the excess of animal-derived foods is linked to microbial al- conditions of the Creative Commons terations and the production of inflammatory metabolites (TMAO), contributing to the Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// increased risk of obesity and so-called non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ diabetes, osteoarthritis, asthma, etc.) [4–6]. Processed food is also a source of additives 4.0/). Antioxidants 2021, 10, 708. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10050708 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/antioxidants Antioxidants 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 22 Antioxidants 2021, 10, 708 2 of 22 (TMAO), contributing to the increased risk of obesity and so-called non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoarthritis, asthma, etc.) [4–6]. Processed food is also a source of additives that have a negative effect on the intestine, microbiota, that have a negative effect on the intestine, microbiota, liver and nervous system, mainly becauseliver and of nervous oxidative system, stress mainly [7]. because of oxidative stress [7]. Fruits and vegetables are characterizedcharacterized byby lowlow caloriecalorie densitydensity andand areare highhigh inin micromicro nutrients [[8].8]. Diet, dietarydietary antioxidants,antioxidants, inflammation inflammation and and body body composition composition (obesity) (obesity) are are strictly strictly in- terwoveninterwoven with with reciprocal–bidirectional reciprocal–bidirectional relations relations that that reflect reflect on the on overall the overall health health condition con- (Figuredition (Figure1). 1). Figure 1. Central role of antioxidants-rich diets in the interplay between microbiota, inflammation Figure 1. Central role of antioxidants-rich diets in the interplay between microbiota, inflammation and obesity. and obesity. 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