Functional Foods and Nondairy Probiotic Food Development: Trends,Concepts, and Products

ABSTRACT: Recently, the focus of scientific investigations has moved from the primary role of food as the source of energy and body‐forming substances to the more subtle action of biologically active food components on human health. There has been an explosion of consumer interest in the active role of food in the well‐being and life prolongation, as well as in the prevention of initiation, promotion, and development of nontransmissible chronic diseases. As a result, a new term—functional food—was proposed. Among these foods, probiotics may exert positive effects on the composition of gut microbiota and overall health, and the market is increasing annually. An increased demand for nondairy probiotic products comes from vegetarianism, milk cholesterol content, and lactose intolerance. Therefore, the development of these products is a key research priority for food design and a challenge for both industry and science sectors. This article presents an overview of functional food development, emphasizing nondairy foods that contain probiotic bacteria strains.     

Strategies to develop healthier processed cheeses: Reduction of sodium and fat contents and use of prebiotics

Dairy industry has sought strategies for obtaining products that meet new market demands, focusing on foods of higher nutritional quality to be better options for consumers. In this competitive scenario, dairy foods have been developed to provide functional components and/or meet specific dietary needs, such as those observed in the setting of obesity and hypertension. Processed cheese, which originally has high-sodium and fat contents in its formulation, may also undergo a reformulation. In addition, nowadays, the addition of prebiotic ingredients into dairy products is a common technological practice to not only enhance their beneficial health effects but also to improve the final texture, replace fat components, and increase the fiber content. In the present review, we provide the state-of-the-art of the effects of fat and salt reduction and the positive impacts of adding prebiotics on the functional properties and sensory acceptance of processed cheeses.     

Invited review: Potential antiobesity effect of fermented dairy products

The growing prevalence of obesity affects millions of people around the world and has gained increased attention over the years because it is associated with the development of other chronic degenerative diseases. Different organizations recommend lifestyle changes to treat obesity; nevertheless, other strategies in addition to lifestyle changes have recently been suggested. One of these strategies is the use of probiotics in fermented dairy products; however, a need exists to review the different studies available related to the potential antiobesity effect of these products. Because probiotic fermented dairy products that support weight management are not available in the market, there is a great opportunity for the development of functional dairy products with new lactic acid bacteria that may present this added health benefit. Thus, the purpose of this overview is to highlight the importance of probiotic fermented dairy products as potential antiobesogenic functional foods and present in vitro and in vivo studies required before this kind of product may be introduced to the market. Overall, most studies attributed the antiobesity effect of fermented dairy foods to the probiotic strains present; however, bioactive peptides released during milk fermentation may also be responsible for this effect.     

Application of cereals and cereal components in functional foods: a review

The food industry is directing new product development towards the area of functional foods and functional food ingredients due to consumers' demand for healthier foods. In this respect, probiotic dairy foods containing human-derived Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and prebiotic food formulations containing ingredients that cannot be digested by the human host in the upper gastrointestinal tract and can selectively stimulate the growth of one or a limited number of colonic bacteria have been recently introduced into the market. The aim of these products is to affect beneficially the gut microbial composition and activities. Cereals offer another alternative for the production of functional foods. The multiple beneficial effects of cereals can be exploited in different ways leading to the design of novel cereal foods or cereal ingredients that can target specific populations. Cereals can be used as fermentable substrates for the growth of probiotic microorganisms. The main parameters that have to be considered are the composition and processing of the cereal grains, the substrate formulation, the growth capability and productivity of the starter culture, the stability of the probiotic strain during storage, the organoleptic properties and the nutritional value of the final product. Additionally, cereals can be used as sources of nondigestible carbohydrates that besides promoting several beneficial physiological effects can also selectively stimulate the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria present in the colon and act as prebiotics. Cereals contain water-soluble fibre, such as beta-glucan and arabinoxylan, oilgosaccharides, such as galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides and resistant starch, which have been suggested to fulfil the prebiotic concept. Separation of specific fractions of fibre from different cereal varieties or cereal by-products, according to the knowledge of fibre distribution in cereal grains, could be achieved through processing technologies, such as milling, sieving, and debranning or pearling. Finally, cereal constituents, such as starch, can be used as encapsulation materials for probiotics in order to improve their stability during storage and enhance their viability during their passage through the adverse conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. It could be concluded that functional foods based on cereals is a challenging perspective, however, the development of new technologies of cereal processing that enhance their health potential and the acceptability of the food product are of primary importance.     

Functional foods: An overview

A direct relationship between foods and health has led to various scientific studies to find the significance of foods or food ingredients on specific functions in the body. The term functional food refers to food with specific beneficial functions, is first coined in Japan. The present paper reviews the factors that have driven the functional food development, various definitions proposed by different authors and their classification. It also provides an overview on various functional ingredients in different food sources along with their potential health benefits, state of the art in commodity-based development and research on functional foods, the key factors required for their mass popularity, including some highlights on the increase in the global market share for such products. Mentions have also been made on the fact that framed rules for proving health claims of functional foods by conducting longitudinal studies before launching in the market are still lacking in many countries.     

Bioactive peptides derived from milk proteins and their health beneficial potentials: an update

It has been well recognized that dietary proteins provide a rich source of biologically active peptides. Today, milk proteins are considered the most important source of bioactive peptides and an increasing number of bioactive peptides have been identified in milk protein hydrolysates and fermented dairy products. Bioactive peptides derived from milk proteins offer a promising approach for the promotion of health by means of a tailored diet and provide interesting opportunities to the dairy industry for expansion of its field of operation. The potential health benefits of milk protein-derived peptides have been a subject of growing commercial interest in the context of health-promoting functional foods. Hence, these peptides are being incorporated in the form of ingredients in functional and novel foods, dietary supplements and even pharmaceuticals with the purpose of delivering specific health benefits.     

Invited review: Bovine colostrum,a promising ingredient for humans and animals—Properties,processing technologies,and uses

Mammalian colostrum, known as “liquid gold,” is considered a valuable source of essential nutrients, growth factors, probiotics, prebiotics, antibodies, and other bioactive compounds. Precisely for this reason, bovine colostrum (BC) is an emerging ingredient for the feed, food, and pharmaceutical industries, being nowadays commercially available in a variety of forms in several countries. Moreover, quite a large number of functional foods and supplements for athletes, human medicines, pet nutrition plans, and complementary feed for some livestock categories, such as piglets and calves, contain BC. The amount of BC yielded by a cow after calving represents approximately 0.5% of the yearly output in dairy breeds. For its nutritional properties and low availability, BC is characterized by a greater market value and an increasing demand compared with other by-products of the dairy sector. However, information regarding the market size of BC for the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as future developments and perspectives, is scarcely available in the scientific literature. This lack can be attributed to industrial secrecy as well as to the relatively small scale of the BC business when compared with other dairy products, which makes the BC market limited, specific, and intended for a restricted audience. From a legal perspective, regulations assign BC to the large family of milk-derived powders; thus, collecting specific production data, as well as import-export trend information, is not straightforward and can result in unprecise estimates. Given that the interest in BC is increasing in different fields, it is important to have an overview of the production steps and of pros and cons of this emerging ingredient. The present narrative review discloses why BC has started to be considered a product rather than a by-product of the dairy industry. Moreover, the present document aims to summarize the existing methodologies used to assess BC quality in terms of immunoglobulin concentration, the different applications of BC in the industry, and the BC processing technologies. Finally, a panoramic view of the current international market is provided for the first time for this dairy product.     

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of (‐)‐Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) and its Potential to Preserve the Quality and Safety of Foods

Quality deterioration of fresh or processed foods is a major challenge for the food industry not only due to economic losses but also due to the risks associated with spoiled foods resulting, for example, from toxic compounds. On the other hand, there are increasing limitations on the application of synthetic preservatives such as antioxidants in foods because of their potential links to human health risks. With the new concept of functional ingredients and the development of the functional foods market, and the desire for a “clean” label, recent research has focused on finding safe additives with multifunctional effects to ensure food safety and quality. (‐)‐Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), a biologically active compound in green tea, has received considerable attention in recent years and is considered a potential alternative to synthetic food additives. EGCG has been shown to prevent the growth of different Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria responsible for food spoilage while showing antioxidant activity in food systems. This review focuses on recent findings related to EGCG separation techniques, modification of its structure, mechanisms of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and applications in preserving the quality and safety of foods.     

Meat as a functional food with special reference to probiotic sausages

Consumers believe that foods are associated directly to their health. Today foods are not only used to satisfy our hunger but also to provide indispensible nutrients for humans and these nutrients having the health benefits regarding in controlling the diseases. The market for functional foods has seen a sharp rise in demand in the recent years. This has driven researchers to multiply their efforts in producing functional meat products also. Feed manipulation and post-mortem modification of meat coupled with enrichment of bioactive compounds are gaining importance. This review discusses the candidate ingredients and strategies, utilized in crafting such functional meat products, and the notable developments and commercial successes in functional meat industry. Dry fermented sausages meet the conditions required to carry viable probiotic microbes. This article enlists various microorganisms that are being commercially used in functional food products and potential bacteria for probiotic sausage production.     

Major advances in concentrated and dry milk products, cheese, and milk fat-based spreads

Advances in dairy foods and dairy foods processing since 1981 have influenced consumers and processors of dairy products. Consumer benefits include dairy products with enhanced nutrition and product functionality for specific applications. Processors convert raw milk to finished product with improved efficiencies and have developed processing technologies to improve traditional products and to introduce new products for expanding the dairy foods market. Membrane processing evolved from a laboratory technique to a major industrial process for milk and whey processing. Ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis have been used extensively in fractionation of milk and whey components. Advances in cheese manufacturing methods have included mechanization of the making process. Membrane processing has allowed uniform composition of the cheese milk and starter cultures have become more predictable. Cheese vats have become larger and enclosed as well as computer controlled. Researchers have learned to control many of the functional properties of cheese by understanding the role of fat and calcium distribution, as bound or unbound, in the cheese matrix. Processed cheese (cheese, foods, spreads, and products) maintain their importance in the industry as many product types can be produced to meet market needs and provide stable products for an extended shelf life. Cheese delivers concentrated nutrients of milk and bio-active peptides to consumers. The technologies for the production of concentrated and dried milk and whey products have not changed greatly in the last 25 yr. The size and efficiencies of the equipment have increased. Use of reverse osmosis in place of vacuum condensing has been proposed. Modifying the fatty acid composition of milkfat to alter the nutritional and functional properties of dairy spread has been a focus of research in the last 2 decades. Conjugated linoleic acid, which can be increased in milkfat by alteration of the cow's diet, has been reported to have anticancer, anti-atherogenic, antidiabetic, and antiobesity effects for human health. Separating milk fat into fractions has been accomplished to provide specific fractions to improve butter spreadability, modulate chocolate meltability, and provide texture for low-fat cheeses.     

Microbial Transglutaminase: General Characteristics and Performance in Food Processing Technology

The enzyme microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) (EC 2.3.2.13) catalyzes acyl transfer reactions, deamidation, and inter and intramolecular crosslinks between amino acid residues of glutamine and lysine. Its application in foods alters the technological properties of food proteins, such as their emulsifying capacity, gelation, viscosity, water holding capacity, and foam formation and stability. The commercial application of the enzyme in Brazil is limited almost entirely to the restructured meat industry and dairy beverages, but several studies have demonstrated its potential for commercial application in vegetable products such as soy, which is little exploited in the market. The application of this enzyme to vegetable derivatives allows for the development of new products or improvement of the functional properties of traditional foods. The objective of this article is to offer a comprehensive overview of the general characteristics and function of the enzyme microbial transglutaminase, with emphasis on its application in foods.     

微晶纤维素的特性及其在食品工业中的应用

微晶纤维素作为一种新型功能性天然高分子化合物,其独特的理化特性使得微晶纤维素在食品、医药及化妆品等行业中的应用越来越受到重视。文章主要阐述了微晶纤维素的理化性质及其在食品工业(如乳制品、冷冻食品及肉制品等)中的应用,并对微晶纤维素的发展前景进行了展望。      

乳酸菌合成共轭亚油酸及其应用研究进展

共轭亚油酸(conjugated linoleic acid,CLA)是一种具有多种生理活性的功能性脂肪酸,在食品、保健品中具有广阔的应用前景。然而,天然来源的CLA含量很低,不能满足人类需求。乳酸菌可以合成CLA,且广泛用于食品加工领域,利用乳酸菌开发富含CLA的功能食品是当今的研究热点。为推动CLA功能食品的研究开发,该文对合成共轭亚油酸乳酸菌的研究进展、合成共轭亚油酸乳酸菌的益生性研究以及将产CLA乳酸菌应用到食品和饲料中的研究现状进行综述,并对利用乳酸菌合成CLA进而应用于功能食品进行展望。     

Ensuring the future of functional foods

Consumption of functional foods suggests a strategy to reduce the incidence of chronic health disorders. This message has resonated with consumers and driven market growth. Functional food research has significantly increased over the last decade but few studies have addressed the bioavailability of active ingredients for clinical efficacy. Baked goods such as bread, biscuits and cake are popular categories for innovation due to their widespread consumption. These new developments have often impacted on organoleptic properties of the finished products and thus consumer acceptance. Blending of bioactive ingredients may overcome this deficit. However, an understanding of the role of the microbiome in health has indicated that the efficacy of functional foods is unlikely to be uniform within the population. Further growth in the functional foods market, is likely to require greater evidence of the bioavailability of active ingredients, clinical effect and support for health claims by regulators especially in the EU.     

The future for milk products in the EEC

The future of milk products must be set against a static European population of increasing age, already generally overfed, and a greater public emphasis on health aspects of foods. Patterns of consumption in the main countries of the EEC are examined with particular reference to the German market. It is suggested that dairy products can expand their share of the market only by replacing other foods, and that this might best be done not by the marketing of mass products but by introducing variety and segmentation of products.     

常见功能性低聚糖的应用研究进展及安全性分析

功能性低聚糖以其多种显著功效日益受到大众关注,已在保健食品等领域得到诸多应用。然而功能性低聚糖的量化使用及安全性分析还缺乏有效广泛的数据支持。作者通过文献调研、产业调研、国内外法规比较、健康证据与试验结果相结合等方法,综述了3种常见功能性低聚糖在来源、生产工艺、安全性、使用剂量等方面的研究进展及在保健食品中的应用情况,并对功能性低聚糖行业的现存问题进行了阐述。     

Towards a sustainable dairy sector: Leadership in sustainable nutrition

As the global population continues to expand, access to sustainable diets that are nutritionally adequate and healthy, affordable, and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems will be critical for the health of future generations. Nutrient‐rich dairy products as part of a healthy diet play an important role in helping meet nutrient recommendations not easily met with other foods and can help lower risk of certain chronic diseases. The dairy industry worldwide is working across public and private sectors to continue to provide nutritious, affordable, culturally appealing dairy products while optimising natural resource use and reducing environmental impacts.     

日本保健功能食品的管理及对我国的启示

目的为了完善我国保健食品法律法规及管理措施,增强保健食品监管的统一性和专业性,促进保健食品行业健康有序的发展。方法本文通过文献研究、专家座谈以及企业调研等方法梳理了日本保健功能食品管理的具体办法。结果通过研究可知日本保健功能食品分为特定保健用食品、功能性标示食品及营养功能食品三个类别,不同类别采用不同的产品审批模式,同时部分原料实现了标准化管理。结论日本保健功能食品的原料根据产品的不同分类进行管理,同时企业承担主体责任的做法对我国保健食品的原料管理有一定的启示。     

功能食品与膳食健康

膳食对居民健康有重要的影响,合理营养、平衡膳食是预防疾病、维持健康的基础。目前,我国仍存在营养调控不足、膳食结构失衡、健康产品缺乏等问题,与膳食相关慢性疾病发病率有上升趋势。作者将从居民对营养健康的关注、功能食品的监管政策和功能食品对营养健康的调控作用3个方面对我国功能食品与膳食健康发展现状进行综述,总结了我国功能食品产业的现存问题以及营养健康产业的未来发展趋势。     

Bioactive peptides: Production and functionality

Milk proteins exert a wide range of nutritional, functional and biological activities. Many milk proteins possess specific biological properties that make these components potential ingredients of health-promoting foods. Increasing attention is being focused on physiologically active peptides derived from milk proteins. These peptides are inactive within the sequence of the parent protein molecule and can be liberated by (1) gastrointestinal digestion of milk, (2) fermentation of milk with proteolytic starter cultures or (3) hydrolysis by proteolytic enzymes. Milk protein derived peptides have been shown in vivo to exert various activities affecting, e.g., the digestive, cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems. Studies have identified a great number of peptide sequences with specific bioactivities in the major milk proteins and also the conditions for their release have been determined. Industrial-scale technologies suitable for the commercial production of bioactive milk peptides have been developed and launched recently. These technologies are based on novel membrane separation and ion exchange chromatographic methods being employed by the emerging dairy ingredient industry. A variety of naturally formed bioactive peptides have been found in fermented dairy products, such as yoghurt, sour milk and cheese. The health benefits attributed to peptides in these traditional products have, so far, not been established, however. On the other hand, there are already a few commercial dairy products supplemented with milk protein-derived bioactive peptides whose health benefits have been documented in clinical human studies. It is envisaged that this trend will expand as more knowledge is gained about the multifunctional properties and physiological functions of milk peptides.