n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the regulation of adipose tissue browning and thermogenesis in obesity: Potential relationship with gut microbiota

Background: Obesity is a worldwide public health problem characterized by fat tissue accumulation, favouring adipose tissue and metabolic alterations. Increasing energy expenditure (EE) through brown adipose tissue activation and white adipose tissue (WAT) browning has gained relevance as a therapeutic approach. Different bioactive compounds, such as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), have been shown to induce those thermogenic effects. This process is regulated by the gut microbiota as well. Nevertheless, obesity is characterized by gut microbiota dysbiosis, which can be restored by weight loss and n-3 PUFA intake, among other factors. Knowledge gap: However, the role of the gut microbiota on the n-3 PUFA effect in inducing thermogenesis in obesity has not been fully elucidated. Objective: This review aims to elucidate the potential implications of this interrelation on WAT browning adiposw sittue (BAT), BAT activity, and EE regulation in obesity models.