Dietary Polyphenols as Regulators of Protein Deposition and Muscle Health: Mechanisms, Interactions, and Functional Applications

ABSTRACT Polyphenols are a class of natural compounds widely found in plants, attracting significant attention due to their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory properties. In recent years, the role of polyphenols in regulating protein metabolism and deposition has gained considerable interest within the scientific community. This paper systematically reviews the mechanisms through which polyphenols influence protein synthesis, degradation, digestion, absorption, deposition, and muscle health. It highlights their regulation of protein synthesis via pathways such as mTOR/AMPK and PI3K/Akt signaling and their role in protein degradation through the ubiquitin‐proteasome system and the autophagy‐lysosomal system. Polyphenols also have significant effects on protein regulation and muscle health, such as promoting protein synthesis in skeletal muscle to support post‐exercise recovery and preventing muscle atrophy, regulating lipid metabolism, and aiding fat reduction in adipose tissue. The synergistic interaction of polyphenols with metabolic pathways involving amino acids, fats, and carbohydrates further enhances their comprehensive regulatory effect on protein metabolism. This paper also discusses the application prospects of polyphenols in animal husbandry and human health, including their potential value as feed additives and nutritional supplements. Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms of polyphenols across different species, food matrices, and processing conditions to facilitate their practical application in food science, animal nutrition, and human health.