Dietary
Supplements & Functional Food > An Overview
t_Articles
Traditional medicine recognized the link between diet and health
thousands of years ago. In some Asian countries, such as China and
Japan, the belief that ‘food and medicine come from the same source and
serve the same purpose’ has been established for many centuries. This
link has taken center stage in recent years with the emergence of
dietary supplements and functional foods. Further, advances in food
technology and nutrition, consumer awareness and growing interest in
medical self-care, increased health care costs of longer living
populations, greater availability of high-quality products and in some
countries a regulatory environment that is supportive of health claims
that are based on genuine scientific evidence have fuelled rapid rises
in the dietary supplement and functional food industries. Evidence of
the health benefits of some foods and supplements is now well
established but consumers should be aware that for many, there is little
or no scientific evidence of health benefits. Being well-informed and
exercising caution and moderation is therefore an important priority for
those who wish to use such products.
Dietary
Supplements
What are dietary supplements?
'A
dietary supplement refers to any product (other than tobacco) that
contains a vitamin, mineral, herb or other botanical, or amino acid
(or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, or combination thereof)
and is intended as a supplement to the diet' - DSHEA of 1994 United
States Public Law 103-417.
Mineral and /or vitamin dietary supplements may be especially important
for individuals whose dietary intake is inadequate, women in their
childbearing years, young children, adolescents, the elderly,
vegetarians, those on a slimming programme and people who smoke or drink
excessively. There is also much interest currently in supplements which
are based on non-essential bioactive ingredients thought to offer
specific health benefits. Dietary supplements come in many forms -
including tablets, capsules, powders, soft-gels, gel-caps, and liquids.
Though commonly associated with health food stores, dietary supplements
are also sold in grocery, drug and discount chain stores, as well as
through mail-order catalogs, TV programs, the Internet, and direct
sales.
Supplement trends
Beyond treating deficiencies, evidence is emerging that some dietary
supplements may help manage or prevent heart disease, cancer,
osteoporosis, and other chromic diseases; others are used in
self-treatment or prevention of various lifestyle and health conditions
or to extend quality of life. Targeting conditions such as joint health,
gut remedies, blood fat, skeletal health, body fat, optimal vision,
sleep problems, stress, depression, anxiety, breast and prostate health,
and hormone imbalances, supplements today may include herbs, botanicals,
animal and plant extracts. Chicken essence, garlic, cordyceps, ginseng,
tangkwei, linzhi, lycium, gingko biloba, black cohosh, echinacea,
omega-3 fatty acids, evening primrose oil, capsaicin, lycopene, green
tea extract, grape seed extract etc., are just some of the ingredients
that have been used as the basis for supplements.
Supplement with a dose of caution
Evidence is certainly growing that some supplements may be beneficial,
but for maximum efficacy and to prevent adverse reactions or toxicity,
caution must be exercised when taking supplements. Firstly, it is
important to read product labels, follow recommended dosages, heed all
warnings and to consult a doctor or health professional, especially if
taking any medications or undergoing treatment for a specific medical
condition. Secondly, avoid taking too many supplements at a time, to
prevent or reduce the risk of supplements interfering and interacting
with one another. Thirdly, it is important to remember that supplements
should never be used as an alternative to healthy lifestyle and diet,
which remain fundamental prerequisites for a healthy life. For example,
some nutrients can only be found in foods or may only provide benefits
if consumed in food form and cannot be replaced by supplements. Also,
neither food nor supplement, can be regarded as substitutes for the
benefits of physical activity. It is also important to remember that
supplements may be used to protect against illnesses and aid recovery,
but cannot cure diseases.
Functional foods
What are functional foods?
There is no universally accepted definition of functional foods.
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) defines functional
foods as, 'foods that provide health benefits beyond basic
nutrition'; in
Japan which was the first national authority to establish a specific
regulatory framework for functional foods, classed as 'Foods for
Specific Health Use' (FOSHU), functional foods are defined as those
containing 'effective substances in addition to providing basic
nutrition and taste'.
Food
items approved in Japan, as eligible to display the FOSHU label, must
first demonstrate the presence of physiologically active components that
are stable in food materials and have been proven using standard
scientific procedures - including human trials, to be effective against
specific diseases such as hypertension, allergy, raised
blood-cholesterol levels. To date, over 200 food products have been
approved as FOSHU.
Traditional foods believed to have intrinsic health benefits, such as
omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish, like salmon and isoflavone-rich soy, both
of which appear to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some
cancers, represent the simplest examples of functional foods. Foods
fortified with nutrients or enhanced with phytochemicals or botanicals,
as well as foods and beverages with added ingredients such as calcium in
orange juice, also fall within the realm of functional foods.
As
ongoing research highlights the varied benefits of food components, many
more functional foods have been discovered and many new foods have been
developed in recent years. Cholesterol reduction, cardiovascular disease
and osteoporosis are the most attractive targets for the development of
functional foods, followed by child development, high blood pressure,
diabetes, GI disorders, menopause and lactose intolerance. Calcium; soy
protein; peptides and isoflavones; plant sterols and stanols; dietary
fibre; vitamins B6, B-12, and folic acid; omega-3 fatty acids;
conjugated linoleic acid and avocado oil; vitamin D; diacylglycerol;
manitol; xylitol; oligosaccharides; garlic; polyphenols; anthocyanins;
and coenzyme Q10 are some of the food components that have received
considerable attention from food manufacturers.
Some
foods products which first entered the market as functional foods may
gain widespread acceptance, moving them from specialist health foods, to
mainstream products. Margarines rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids are
one example of this. Continued research and product development of
margarine spreads, has resulted in further innovations, such as the
introduction of esterified phytosterols and phytostanols, on the basis
of extensive evidence that these compounds are effective in lowering
blood-cholesterol levels.
Another large functional food area is that of dairy foods containing
friendly or probiotic bacteria claimed to promote gut health, by
balancing the intestinal flora, 'comforting' the GI tract, improving the
GI condition and mineral absorption. Cereals and grains fortified with
calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E or phytoestrogens are also gaining
popularity. Drinks too, are a fast developing area of functional foods.
In Japan fermented drinks and drinks with plant extracts, vitamins,
sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium lactate, yeast, dietary
fibre, or polyphenols are popular.
Function foods-moderate the intake
Functional foods are convenient for today's lifestyle,
genuinely-researched and offer novel ingredients that can bring about
health benefits quicker. However, one must not rely solely on these
foods for maintaining health. The American Dietetic Association (ADA)
believes that functional foods, "have a potentially beneficial
effect on health when consumed as part of a varied diet on a regular
basis, at effective levels". Besides, excessive intake of certain
beneficial foods can tip the balance of a healthy diet - hence a
moderate intake is advisable.
Supplement & functional food regulations
As
the dietary supplement and functional food industry grows, quality
control has become an issue of utmost importance. In October, 2002, 340
representatives of Asian governments with members of the global
supplement industry met at the IADSA Asian conference in Bangkok. A
panel of regulatory experts from nine Asian countries identified the
need for a common approach to regulations across the region and
concluded that Codex Alimentarius may be the best route to a final
agreement for the region. They also called for a marketing framework
based on sound science, fair claims, product quality, safety and the
widest freedom of choice for dietary supplements and functional foods.
However, much needs to be done to facilitate the exchange of
information, discussion and the establishment of common ground.
