Adipose Tissue Aging and Natural Interventions: Potential Roles of Polyphenols and Polysaccharides.

Authors

Zhao-Jie Chen, Zi-Yan Zhao, Yi-Yi Chen, Zhen-Chi Li, Yong-Xian Cheng

Published in

Nutrients. Volume 18. Issue 6. Mar 15, 2026. Epub Mar 15, 2026.

Abstract

Adipose tissue serves as a critical metabolic and endocrine organ, essential for maintaining systemic energy homeostasis and inter-organ communication. During the aging process, it undergoes significant structural remodeling and functional decline, characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism, chronic low-grade inflammation, reduced insulin sensitivity, and adipokine imbalance. These alterations not only compromise the physiological integrity of adipose tissue but also contribute to the progression of various age-associated metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In recent years, natural products have emerged as a focal point in anti-aging research, owing to their broad accessibility, high biological safety, and capacity for multi-target regulation. Polyphenolic and polysaccharide, in particular, have demonstrated robust antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, autophagy-modulating, and mitochondrial-protective effects in cellular and animal models, indicating their promise in attenuating adipose tissue aging. Although the anti-aging effects of these natural compounds are well documented in the neural, hepatic, and cardiovascular systems, their specific mechanisms in adipose depots-especially differential regulatory patterns between white and brown adipose tissues, which may inform depot-specific therapies-and the development of targeted delivery approaches remain inadequately explored. This review, grounded in the three primary hallmarks of adipose tissue aging (oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and dysregulated lipid metabolism), systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms and recent advancements in the application of polyphenols and polysaccharides as natural modulators. This review establishes a cohesive theoretical foundation and delivers innovative perspectives to guide the advancement of natural product-based nutritional and therapeutic strategies for combating adipose tissue aging.

PMID:
41901101
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 17 Sep 2026.

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