FFC’s Advancement of Functional Food Definition
Journal Title: Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Year 2018, Vol 8, Issue 7
Abstract
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.
Induction of apoptosis by fucoidan isolated from a traditional food, Saccharina longissima, in U937 human leukemia cells
Background: A brown seaweed, Saccharina longissima (Laminaria angustata var. longissima) has been consumed in Okinawa for 300 years. It is native to the southernmost part of Japan, in Okinawa, but grows on the Pacific co...
FFC’s Advancement of Functional Food Definition
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 re...
A new method for aldo-sugar analysis in beverages and dietary foods
Background: Carbohydrates are found in most of our everyday diet; however, sugar analysis is difficult and inconvenient in food materials such as beverages, fruits and vegetables. Here, we report a new method for labelin...
Tolerance, bioavailability, and potential cognitive health implications of a distinct aqueous spearmint extract
Background: Cognitive function can decline during the aging process and significantly reduce quality of life. Although a number of interventions have been investigated for cognitive dysfunction, including antioxidants, t...
9-cis β-carotene Inhibits Atherosclerosis Development in Female LDLR-/- Mice
Background: Several epidemiological studies have shown that diets rich in carotenoids are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. However, administration of synthetic all-trans b-carotene was reported t...