scholarly journals Choosing Suitable Food Vehicles for Functional Food Products

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Gloria Aderonke Otunola ◽  
Danik Martirosyan

Globally, there is a growing demand for functional foods that provide health benefits without changing current dietary habits. However, the world is made up of diverse societies that consist of a wide range of individuals from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds associated with different food choices and preferences. Functional foods resemble traditional foods but have been designed and tailored to confer physiological and health benefits that go beyond their nutritional function. Of the seven-step cycle involved in functional food production, choosing a suitable food vehicle as a carrier of the bioactive components is essential. Therefore, this review explored the importance of food vehicles and how they can influence the acceptance of functional foods. Relevant scientific literature was electronically sourced from Google Scholar, Google, PubMed, databases of the Journals of Functional Foods in Health and Disease (JFFHD) and Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease (BCHD) based on their mention or discussion of food choice and preference and food vehicles for food fortification or functional food production. These studies revealed that although functional foods are found virtually in all food categories, they are not homogeneously scattered over all segments of the growing market. Consumer demands and acceptance in terms of consumption patterns, ethnicity, culture, religion, and allergy, amongst others, need to be taken into consideration when choosing appropriate vehicles for functional food development.Keywords: food vehicles, functional foods, food fortification, food choice, food preference, fortification, phytonutrients, bioactive compounds

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Kaprelyants ◽  
A. Yegorova ◽  
L. Trufkati ◽  
L. Pozhitkova

Today, food is intended not only to satisfy hunger and provide necessary nutrients for human organism, but also to prevent nutrition-associated diseases and improve the mental and physical condition. The formula of food in the XXI century includes constant use of both traditional natural foods and foods with desired properties in the diet. The foods with desired properties are the functional food products, i. e. those enriched with essential food substances and micronutrients. These functional products cover a wide range of foods and ingredients with various biologically active substances responsible for their health-supporting and preventive effectiveness. This allows to lower the healthcare expenditures and support the economical development. The health and general well-being of today’s Ukrainians is influenced by many factors: rush life tempo, age-related changes in organs and tissues, heredity, unhealthy habits, stress situations etc. But the great importance of the diet and numbers and quality of products from which meals are prepared also should be kept in mind. And while we cannot change some factors, we can absolutely control others, particularly the characteristics of foods. The article presents some features of modern diet of Ukrainian population as an integral factor of health risk. Also, we show food substance consumption profiles of Ukrainian population in years 2015-2018, and the rate of functional foods on Ukrainian market in the last two years. The article is a review and highlights the necessity to develop production of functional foods based on fundamental and applied researches in food technology, nutritiology and the latest molecular biological technologies. General approaches to modern principles of functional food production technology are proposed. The role of the latest molecular biological technologies in functional food production is disclosed, especially of the proteomics, nutrigenomics and metabolomics. Important directions of functional food research are shown, they are associated with identification of new functional ingredients and increasing confidence of the consumers in such products. Motivations are proposed to stimulate the food manufactures to continue to develop the functional foods and to increase their assortment, thus providing a remarkable profit from successful products.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danik Martirosyan ◽  
Emma Miller

Background: Bioactive compounds are the constituents of foods, especially functional foods, that provide beneficial health properties. For example, these benefits include antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and various additional preventative properties, which illustrates how bioactive compounds are the real-life example of Hippocrates’ notion “let thy food be thy medicine” [1]. Originally, many definitions of functional foods neglected to acknowledge the importance of bioactive compounds [2]. Bioactive compounds are the constituents that enhance functional foods and therefore are necessary to incorporate under the umbrella of functional foods. Functional foods are able to provide health benefits though bioactive compounds, as these compounds target mechanisms that manage, prevent, and/or treat disease [2]. The Functional Food Center asserts that bioactive compounds are quintessential of functional foods and essential for optimal health, thereby leading to the inclusion of bioactive compounds in the most recent definition of functional foods [1].


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sarkar

PurposeYoghurt is most popular and more acceptable throughout the world because of its general positive image among consumers because of its diverse nutritional and therapeutic properties and can be the most suitable probiotic carrier. Key factors for consumer’s inclination towards functional foods are increased awareness for healthy foods because of health deterioration resulting from busy lifestyles, growing healthcare cost and the aspiration for an improved quality life in later years. Yoghurt is still not consumed in certain parts of the world because of a lack of a cultural tradition of consuming yogurt and further people are not aware of the health benefits associated with yogurt consumption. In this study an attempt has been to project probiotic yoghurt as a functional food in the current era of self-care and complementary medicine.Design/methodology/approachAttempt has been made to review the literature on the biochemical activities of yoghurt cultures and their behavior in association with diverse probiotic cultures. Both review and research papers related to biochemical activities and functional properties of yoghurt cultures in association with probiotics and their health benefits published in diverse journals under Pub Med and Science Direct have been considered. Keywords used for data search included functional foods, yoghurt, probiotic, health benefits, etc.FindingsFunctional properties of yoghurt can be further enhanced with fortification of minerals and vitamins or inclusion of probiotic cultures. Diversity in biochemical behavior yoghurt cultures in association with different probiotic cultures has been reported. Conjugated application of probiotics with yoghurt cultures would result in a product with enhanced functional properties to extend health benefits.Originality/valueInclusion of probiotic cultures in yoghurt is suggested to extend the functional properties of normal yoghurt, thus providing necessary nutrients, improving health and preventing or reducing nutrition-related diseases. Regular intake of probiotic yoghurt is suggested for healthy lifestyles, as it will help in retaining their health and reduce the potentially long-term risk of disease. Food industries can have profit-driven business by projecting the probiotic yoghurt as a functional food.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lieke Vorage ◽  
Nicola Wiseman ◽  
Joana Graca ◽  
Neil Harris

The functional food market is one of the fastest growing segments of the global food industry. The aims of this study were to understand the association of demographic characteristics and food choice motives (FCMs) with (a) attitudes toward functional foods and (b) consumption of functional foods in Australian emerging adults. Data were collected through a paper-based and online questionnaire completed by 370 young adults aged between 17 and 29 years. A binomial logistic regression was used to determine the association between demographic characteristics and FCMs with attitudes towards functional foods. The logistic regression model was statistically significant at χ2(11) = 48.310 (p < 0.001) and explained 18.1% of the variance in attitude towards functional food. Of the several predictors, only the FCMs natural content and weight control were statistically significant. A binomial logistic regression was also used to determine the association between demographic characteristics and FCMs with the consumption of functional foods. The logistic regression model was statistically significant at χ2(9) = 37.499 (p < 0.001) and explained 14.1% of the variance in functional food consumption. Of the eight predictors, three were statistically significant: living situation, natural content and health. Findings highlight that when targeting emerging adults, functional food companies could benefit from promoting the natural and health properties of their products. Furthermore, consumption can be increased by targeting the parents of emerging adults and by designing functional foods that attract emerging adults interested in controlling weight.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 377-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Carović-Stanko ◽  
M. Petek ◽  
M. Grdiša ◽  
J. Pintar ◽  
D. Bedeković ◽  
...  

Historically, species of the family Lamiaceae have enjoyed a rich tradition of use for flavouring, food preservation, and medicinal purposes, due to both their curative and their preventive properties. It is well known that each species has a special, complex mixture of bioactive compounds in which each component contributes to its overall bioactivity. Their value lays in the production of a wide range of secondary metabolites with potent antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer activities. This review focuses on the Lamiaceae species and their secondary metabolites encompassing a wide array of beneficial functions and their applicability as sources of functional foods. It could help in addressing specific consumer needs as healthy diet is a part of the lifestyle that maintains or improves overall health.


Objective: I introduce a new technical and conceptual term “nutritional proteomics” by identifying and quantifying the proteins and their changes in a certain organ or tissue dependent on the food intake by utilizing a mass spectrometry based proteomics technique. Purpose: Food intake is essentially important for every life on earth to sustain the physical as well as mental functions. The outcome of food intake will be manifested in the health state and its dysfunction. The molecular information about the protein expression change caused by diets will assist us to understand the significance of functional foods. We wish to develop nutritional proteomics to promote a new area in functional food studies for a better Understanding of the role o1’firnctional foods in health and disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (12) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Pooja Agarwal ◽  
Emma Rutter ◽  
Danik M Martirosyan

The entirety of this particular review article demonstrates an in-depth analysis of the overall functionality of nutritional functional foods, imperative bioactive compounds, and essential biomarkers within the metabolic pathway and in chronic disease progression. Specifically, this review article assesses the efficacy of a plethora of functional foods and their associated bioactive compounds via the interpretation of epidemiological research studies that were conducted in the following design formats: cohort design, case-control design, cross-sectional design, and randomized controlled trial design. Although there has been a source of ambiguity demonstrated by food scientists and government organizations surrounding what would be the standard definition of functional food, this review article attempts to advocate for a contemporary definition that acknowledges the primary attributes of present-day functional food. Having said this, the main intention of this review article is to help address the necessity of analyzing the overarching efficacy of specific functional foods via the analysis of different retrospective epidemiological studies. Moreover, this review article will acknowledge which specific epidemiological study research design format is most applicable in the evaluation of functional food products within upcoming epidemiological studies. Ultimately, food scientists and nutritionists alike will get the opportunity to develop an all-encompassing contemporary definition for functional food upon the recognition and incorporation of different epidemiological study research design formats in a timely and cost-effective manner. KEYWORDS: Functional food, bioactive compounds, biomarkers, epidemiology, cohort design, case-control design, cross-sectional design, and randomized controlled trial design.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Gur ◽  
Marselinny Mawuntu ◽  
Danik Martirosyan

Background: To create functional food products based on scientific evidence, we must first define functional foods. Previous definitions describe how functional foods improve health and mitigate disease. However, more refined definitions provide a reason for their efficacy–through the activity of bioactive compounds and the measurement of biomarkers, which are the essential tools for gauging the effectiveness of functional foods.Functional foods are generally linked to health promotion. The physiological effects of functional food or bioactive compounds may vary, but their categories of action include physical performance, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological function, organ or system function, and combating chronic disease [1, 2].Therefore, establishing a formal definition for these foods will help bring legitimate functional foods to the market. The addition of bioactive compounds, or biochemical molecules that improve health through the physiological mechanisms, improves the definition of functional foods. As a result, the advancement of the functional food definition by the Functional Food Center (FFC) has developed to provide clarity and a more comprehensive understanding of its meaning. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ricardo I. Castro ◽  
Patricio Ramos ◽  
Carolina Parra-Palma ◽  
Luis Morales-Quintana

Since the intake of fruits and vegetables displays important effects on the incidence of several chronic diseases in humans, consumers’ attention worldwide is focused on the identification of functional foods. In this sense, Ugni molinae (murtilla or murta fruit) is an important source of molecules with a strong antioxidant capacity that is widely used as a medicinal plant in Southern Argentina-Chile. Research on murtilla berries showed that this fruit and its leaves can be an excellent source of polyphenols and bioactive compounds with antibacterial and antioxidant capacity. This review is aimed at providing valuable information and discussing the available literature focused on four principal points: (i) fruit quality and plant physiology, (ii) compound content with bioactive properties, (iii) health properties for consumers of the fruit and leaves, and (iv) challenges for future research. Based on these four points, we propose that murtilla fruit can be a potential ingredient for new functional food products.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Rie Sadohara ◽  
Danik Martirosyan

The aging population and skyrocketing medical costs are an urgent problem in some countries, which necessitates the prevention of diseases and postponement of disease progression with non-medical means. Functional foods are those that exhibit beneficial effects on human health and play a vital role in supporting part of normal diets. In order to produce functional foods with safe and effective active compounds, it is necessary to define functional foods and to identify the bioactive compounds, the mode(s) of action, and the proper daily dosage. Furthermore, functional foods should undergo a neutral evaluation by an independent organization to ensure only safe and effective products will be released to the market. Japan’s Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) approval system will be described in this review as an example in which individual functional foods are evaluated with numerous criteria by a governmental agency. Whilst the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates and authorizes health claim petitions, a definition of functional foods and a distinct functional food category are lacking in the U.S.. The Functional Food Center (FFC) has been supporting functional food scientists worldwide through research and the publishing of numerous educational materials on functional foods. Thus, the FFC and the Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds (ASFFBC) can and are willing to help the FDA and other governmental agencies establish the category of functional foods and the field of functional food science, which needs to be highly collaborative and multidisciplinary. This review will also describe the current health claim authorization by the FDA and the FFC’s vision on the definition of functional foods, bioactive compounds, and the establishment of functional food science that will eventually contribute to human health and well-being in the US and across the globe.Keywords: functional food definition, functional foods, FOSHU, bioactive compounds, functional food science, health claim, foods for specified health uses


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