The Role of Oxidative Stress Enhanced by Adiposity in Cardiometabolic Diseases

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), including cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and type 2 diabetes (T2D), are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The growing prevalence of CVD is largely attributed to population aging and common risk factors such as high systolic blood pressure, elevated plasma glucose, and increased body mass index, leading to global epidemics of obesity, MetS, and T2D. Oxidant–antioxidant balance disorders significantly contribute to the pathogenesis and outcomes of CMDs, including systemic essential hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, and MetS. Excess adipose tissue in obesity exhibits enhanced and disturbed generation of reactive oxygen species, promoting oxidative stress. Understanding the interplay between adiposity, oxidative stress, and cardiometabolic risks may enable novel strategies to reduce CMD burden. This review synthesizes basic and clinical evidence on redox imbalance in CMDs among individuals with excess adiposity, highlighting mechanisms, clinical implications, knowledge gaps, and future directions. Insights into adiposity–oxidative stress interactions may inform prevention and treatment of CMDs. Further basic research and clinical trials are needed to clarify mechanisms and evaluate antioxidant therapies for risk reduction and improved outcomes in CMDs.

Yutang Wang, Dianna Magliano, Iwona Świątkiewicz, Marcin Wróblewski, Jarosław Nuszkiewicz, Paweł Sutkowy, Joanna Wróblewska, Alina Woźniak