Interplay Between Dietary Bioactive Compounds and Gut Microbiota in Modulating Obesity-Associated Inflammation and Metabolic Dysfunction

Dietary bioactive compounds such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytochemicals have numerous health benefits, which include alleviating obesity-associated inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. While mechanistic studies have focused thus far on how these compounds or their metabolites affect whole-animal physiology or exert tissue-specific effects, detailed reports are lacking about how these bioactives specifically affect gut microbiota and mitochondrial function, two important processes impacted by metabolic diseases. Gut microbiota, through their composition and metabolites, play a significant role in overall health and mediating the effects of diet. Therefore, understanding how dietary bioactive compounds modulate gut microbiota is crucial for elucidating their contributions to metabolic health. Conversely, gut microbiota may also alter the metabolism of bioactives, especially phytochemicals, and impact their bioavailability and function. Mitochondria, particularly in adipose tissue, play a central role in energy metabolism and are implicated in the development of obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction. Thus, investigating the effects of dietary bioactive compounds on mitochondrial function provides valuable insight into their potential roles in addressing obesity-related diseases. Accordingly, the goal of this review is to discuss key published work on the interplay between dietary bioactives, gut microbiota and their metabolites, and mitochondria function in the context of improving obesity-associated inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.