Functional foods, nutriceuticals and health

Abstract

This work reviewed the types, uses and effects of functional foods and nutriceuticals on human health (advantages and disadvantages). The different types of functional foods include : probiotics, cereals and grains, drinks and phytochemicals; while types of nutriceuticals include dietary supplements, food products of particular nutritional use such as infant formulas, diabetic foods etc., and functional foods that provide benefits beyond basic nutrition. They are used either directly as food, special diets or as nutritional supplements. Their advantages include lowering of blood lipid levels, improving arterial compliance, reducing low-density lipoprotein oxidation, scavenging free radicals and inhibiting platelet aggregation.  Disadvantages include the fact that the presence of phytochemicals in food may send confusing signals about how to plan healthful diets. Also, manufactured functional foods may be less available because of the conversion of active ingredients present in nature in levo-form to dextro-form as a result of processing. Thus, linking the consumption of functional foods and nutriceuticals with health claims should be based on scientific evidence.