An Obesogen Among Dietary Endocrine Disruptors: Acrylamide

Abstract

Obesity is a public health problem that is considered as a pandemic today. Excessive nutrition, positive energy balance and sedentary lifestyle are the most important factors in the etiology of obesity. Obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders such as dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension are among the most important causes of mortality today. In recent years, it has been suggested that another reason for the rapid and unstoppable increase in obesity prevalence may be endocrine disrupting compounds, which are described as obesogens. Acrylamide is a toxic compound that is considered a chemical hazard in the food chain. With the understanding of its endocrine disrupting properties, many clinical and epidemiological studies have been conducted in which acrylamide, which is frequently exposed in daily life through the environment and diet, is also evaluated as an endocrine disrupting substance. Apart from the known harmful effects of acrylamide, it is discussed that it has obesogenic effects. Although it has been shown by studies that it shows this effect mechanistically on energy and adipose tissue metabolism through various metabolic pathways, its exact mechanism of action as an obesogen has not yet been reported. Therefore, there is a need for more extensive research on this subject.