Skeletal muscle atrophy resulting from glucolipid metabolic disorders poses a serious challenge to human health with the rapidly increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity. Clinical trials investigating treatment interventions against skeletal muscle atrophy yielded limited success. This article addressed novel phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and plant extracts, that modulated muscle atrophy and suggested avenues for future treatment. Several studies demonstrated an inverse relationship between dietary phytochemical supplementation and the onset of skeletal muscle atrophy caused by glucolipid metabolic disorders, as evidenced by improved muscle quality and function. Insulin-like growth factor 1/protein kinase B signaling pathway activation, protein ubiquitination inhibition, enhancement of mitochondrial function and inflammatory response, reduction of oxidative stress, and regulation of gut microbiota represent the mechanisms underlying the anti-skeletal muscle atrophy effect of phytochemicals. The manuscript also contains the clinical trials and filed patents regarding the beneficial effects of phytochemicals on skeletal muscle health. This review provided fresh perspectives on potentially effective therapeutic or preventive measures (dietary phytochemical intervention) for clinically managing skeletal muscle atrophy associated with diabetes or obesity.

Skeletal muscle atrophy resulting from glucolipid metabolic disorders poses a serious challenge to human health with the rapidly increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity. Clinical trials investigating treatment interventions against skeletal muscle atrophy yielded limited success. This article addressed novel phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and plant extracts, that modulated muscle atrophy and suggested avenues for future treatment. Several studies demonstrated an inverse relationship between dietary phytochemical supplementation and the onset of skeletal muscle atrophy caused by glucolipid metabolic disorders, as evidenced by improved muscle quality and function. Insulin-like growth factor 1/protein kinase B signaling pathway activation, protein ubiquitination inhibition, enhancement of mitochondrial function and inflammatory response, reduction of oxidative stress, and regulation of gut microbiota represent the mechanisms underlying the anti-skeletal muscle atrophy effect of phytochemicals. The manuscript also contains the clinical trials and filed patents regarding the beneficial effects of phytochemicals on skeletal muscle health. This review provided fresh perspectives on potentially effective therapeutic or preventive measures (dietary phytochemical intervention) for clinically managing skeletal muscle atrophy associated with diabetes or obesity.