Obesity is a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the adipose tissue due to diverse infiltrated immune cells, an increased secretion of proinflammatory molecules, and a decreased secretion of anti-inflammatory molecules. On the other hand, obesity increases the risk of several diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Their treatment is based on nutritional and pharmacological strategies. However, natural products are currently implemented as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Polyphenols and fiber are naturally compounds with potential action to reduce inflammation through several pathways and play an important role in the prevention and treatment of obesity, as well as in other non-communicable diseases. Hence, this review focuses on the recent evidence of the molecular mechanisms of polyphenols and dietary fiber, from Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed, among others, by using key words and based on recent in vitro and in vivo studies.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are essential components in a myriad of pathogenic entities that lead to metabolic and chronic diseases. Moreover, inflammation in its different phases is necessary for the initiation and maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. Therefore, an equilibrium between a necessary/pathologic level of inflammation and oxidative stress during pregnancy is needed to avoid disease development. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are important for a healthy pregnancy and a good neonatal outcome. Their role in fetal development during challenging situations is vital for maintaining the equilibrium. However, in certain conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and other cardiovascular diseases, it has been observed that HDL loses its protective properties, becoming dysfunctional. Bioactive compounds have been widely studied as mediators of inflammation and oxidative stress in different diseases, but their mechanisms of action are still unknown. Nonetheless, these agents, which are obtained from functional foods, increase the concentration of HDL, TRC, and antioxidant activity. Therefore, this review first summarizes several mechanisms of HDL participation in the equilibrium between inflammation and oxidative stress. Second, it gives an insight into how HDL may act as a vector for bioactive compounds. Third, it describes the relationships between the inflammation process in pregnancy and HDL activity. Consequently, different databases were used, including MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus, where scientific articles published in the English language up to 2023 were identified.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has continued to be the subject of study since its discovery nearly 40 years ago. Significant advances in research and intake of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have slowed the progression and appearance of the disease symptoms and the incidence of concomitant diseases, which are the leading cause of death in HIV+ persons. However, the prolongation of ART is closely related to chronic degenerative diseases and pathologies caused by oxidative stress (OS) and alterations in lipid metabolism (increased cholesterol levels), both of which are conditions of ART. Therefore, recent research focuses on using natural therapies to diminish the effects of ART and HIV infection: regulating lipid metabolism and reducing OS status. The present review summarizes current information on OS and cholesterol metabolism in HIV+ persons and how the consumption of certain phytochemicals can modulate these. For this purpose, MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases were consulted to identify publications investigating HIV disease and natural therapies and their associated effects.

Childhood overweight and obesity represent a growing public health problem worldwide. Since the 1980s, the global prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence has increased by 47%. The promotion of exercise is an important intervention to reduce the physical damage of obesity. The meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the general guidelines for the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). The PubMed, SciELO, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases were searched from August to December 2021. The search yielded 722 titles published between 2000 and 2021. After screening the titles and abstracts, 64 duplicate articles were detected, and 27 articles were ultimately included in the systematic review, including 26 articles published in English and one published in Spanish. There was a statistically significant effect of the strength training interventions on the percentage of body fat, Test of 0 i = (p = 0.00, z = 6.92), Test of 0 = (p = 0.00, Q (9) = 42.63). The findings reveal that strength training has a positive impact on the treatment of body fat in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.

For the writing of this manuscript, we searched information published from 2000 to 2021, through PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, and Science Direct. Focusing on the effects related to respiratory diseases, in addition to possible direct effects towards SARS-CoV-2, coupled with diabetes. Diabetes is a metabolic disease that is characterized by affecting the function of glucose, in addition to insulin insufficiency. This leads to patients with such pathologies as being at greater risk for developing multiple complications and increase exposure to viruses infections. This is the case of severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 19 (SARS-CoV-2), which gave rise to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), declared an international public health emergency in March of 2020 Currently, several strategies have been applied in order to prevent the majority of the consequences of COVID-19, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes. Among the possible treatment options, we found that the use of phytochemical compounds has exhibited beneficial effects for the prevention and inhibition of infection by SARS-CoV-2, as well as for the improvement of the manifestations of diabetes.

The objective of this study is to determine the physiological and metabolic effects of administration of dietary fiber formulations to male Wistar rats. The study population was divided into five groups to which food and water were orally administered ad libitum (control), alongside Psyllium plantago, sennosides A and B, cactus pear peel powder, and cactus pear peel tablet powder for 28 days. Body weight, biochemical parameters, fecal moisture, and intestinal transit were determined. The administration of the fiber formulations did not cause differences between the groups and they maintained a healthy weight; however, the consumption of the cactus pear peel tablet powder decreased serum glucose (127.85 ± 5.37 to 68.30 ± 12.48 mg/dL) in rats in a similar form to Psyllium plantago (127.85 ± 5.37 to 96.96 ± 3.26 mg/dL) in comparison with commercial products for rats, and the cactus pear peel powder had lower triglyceride levels (49.52 to 74.44 mg/dL) than commercial products at the end of the treatment. The samples maintained normal HDL levels with the exception of Psyllium plantago that had a decrease in treatment after 28 days. The administration of formulations of dietary fiber of cactus pear peel had physiological and metabolic effects similar to those of commercial products without change in the growth of the animals. Therefore, it could be used in the pharmaceutical or food industry.