Preface

This book consists of chapters that summarize the scientific research that connects functional foods with the active components and important health benefits. The health benefits of functional foods should be based on accurate scientific data and the issues of safety and efficacy should be taken into consideration. We must remember that functional foods are foods and not drugs or dietary supplements and any adverse effects with other pharmaceuticals should be thoroughly studied. In the Introductory Chapter 1, we see that it is important to communicate to the consumers the definitions of functional foods, the categories and how they can be prepared and used in our daily diet. In recent years, there has been growing interest in plant sources, vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants rich in vitamins, fibers, and various categories of phytochemicals that have beneficial effects on human health, such as preventing or reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Olive oil is considered as a key component of the Mediterranean diet due to its fatty acid, especially monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid, vitamin, and polyphenol composition. There are over 200 minor components in olive oil with biological activities. The most abundant antioxidants in olive oil are tocopherols, β-carotene, lutein, squalene, and lipophilic and hydrophilic phenols. Chapter 2 "Olive Oil: Antioxidant Compounds and Their Potential Effects On Health" overviews the chemical composition and health effects of the active components in olive oil. In Chapter 3 "Olive Oil Phenols", the structure and the significant biological activities of the four most abundant phenols in extra virgin olive oil (oleocanthal, oleacein, lingstroside aglycon, and oleuropein aglycon) are extensively described. An olive-oil-rich diet protects human health from cardiovascular diseases (cardiometabolic markers such as blood pressure, glycaemia, and dyslipidemia, LDL cholesterol, and LDL oxidation), type-2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The challenges of the new development of probiotic fermented products based on vegetables and fruits are presented in Chapter 4 "Fermented Functional Beverages" using scientific data from research studies. The scientific data, including the methods and the results, is presented in Chapter 5 "Functional Properties of Snack Bars" describes extensively the development of snack bars, which are consumer-friendly, with bioactive ingredients, and functional properties. Fish belongs to the basic food group of a healthy diet and is rich in important fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. These are the key issues addressed in Chapter 6 "Fish as an Important Functional Food for Quality Life". New food processing technologies have been developed in order to stabilize the final functional product and preserve its bioactive properties and these are being used by food manufacturers. This is the key issue of Chapter 7. "Instant Controlled Pressure-drop DIC as a Strategic Technology for Different

Types of Natural Functional Foods". It is a process that improves both performance of the drying process and high-quality functional foods.

#### **Dr. Vasiliki Lagouri**

**1**

Section 1

Introduction

Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, Athens, Greece

Section 1 Introduction

**3**

**Chapter 1**

Foods

*Vasiliki Lagouri*

**1. Functional foods definitions**

of foods not as supplements [1].

chemo-preventive effects" [4].

for functional food.

of any of them.

Introductory Chapter: Functional

The first definition of functional foods has been established in Japan. In 1991,

A second definition of functional foods developed by the "Functional Food Science in Europe" (FUFOSE): "Functional food is a food with certain beneficial effects on one or more target functions in the body beyond the basic nutritional effects with a result the improved health state and well being or reduction of risk of diseases. It is consumed as a part of a normal diet and is not used in the form of pill

Recently, the Functional Food Center (FFC) introduced a new definition for functional foods as: "Natural or processed foods that contains known or unknown biologically-active compounds; which, in defined, effective non-toxic amounts, provide a clinically proven and documented health benefit for the prevention, management, or treatment of chronic disease" [3]. In this definition, first functional foods can be natural or processed. Second, bioactive compounds, which are considered to be the source of the functionality of the foods, are secondary metabolites occur in food usually in small amounts that act synergistically to benefit health. Specifically, bioactive compounds may "exert antioxidant, cardio-protective and

US does not have a formal definition for functional foods. Τhe terms nutraceuticals or dietary supplements or medical foods are often used, thus functional foods cannot be regulated differently from other food products. Despite the government agencies, national and international organizations proposed their own definitions for functional food. The lack of a consistent definition between countries has led to unregulated publishing of health claims in functional foods and there exists an overall unclear definition of what "functional food" is between scientists, government officials, and the consumers. It is imperative that the food scientists should reconsider the meaning of functional food and agree upon a new formal definition

In practice, a functional food can be a natural food, a food to which a healthpromoting component has been added or from which a component for specific health reasons has been removed, a food in which a component has been modified by technological or chemical means to provide a specific health benefit, or a food in which the bioavailability of a component has been modified, or a combination

Although the terms "nutraceutical" and "functional food" are used commonly around the world, there is no consensus on their meaning. According to

the Japanese law entered the work definition "foods for specified health use" (FOSHU) which allowed the first health claims on the food labeling. The FOSHU can be foods which exhibit health effect, used as foods in a diet, and are in the form

or capsule or any other form of dietary supplement" [2].

#### **Chapter 1**

## Introductory Chapter: Functional Foods

*Vasiliki Lagouri*

#### **1. Functional foods definitions**

The first definition of functional foods has been established in Japan. In 1991, the Japanese law entered the work definition "foods for specified health use" (FOSHU) which allowed the first health claims on the food labeling. The FOSHU can be foods which exhibit health effect, used as foods in a diet, and are in the form of foods not as supplements [1].

A second definition of functional foods developed by the "Functional Food Science in Europe" (FUFOSE): "Functional food is a food with certain beneficial effects on one or more target functions in the body beyond the basic nutritional effects with a result the improved health state and well being or reduction of risk of diseases. It is consumed as a part of a normal diet and is not used in the form of pill or capsule or any other form of dietary supplement" [2].

Recently, the Functional Food Center (FFC) introduced a new definition for functional foods as: "Natural or processed foods that contains known or unknown biologically-active compounds; which, in defined, effective non-toxic amounts, provide a clinically proven and documented health benefit for the prevention, management, or treatment of chronic disease" [3]. In this definition, first functional foods can be natural or processed. Second, bioactive compounds, which are considered to be the source of the functionality of the foods, are secondary metabolites occur in food usually in small amounts that act synergistically to benefit health. Specifically, bioactive compounds may "exert antioxidant, cardio-protective and chemo-preventive effects" [4].

US does not have a formal definition for functional foods. Τhe terms nutraceuticals or dietary supplements or medical foods are often used, thus functional foods cannot be regulated differently from other food products. Despite the government agencies, national and international organizations proposed their own definitions for functional food. The lack of a consistent definition between countries has led to unregulated publishing of health claims in functional foods and there exists an overall unclear definition of what "functional food" is between scientists, government officials, and the consumers. It is imperative that the food scientists should reconsider the meaning of functional food and agree upon a new formal definition for functional food.

In practice, a functional food can be a natural food, a food to which a healthpromoting component has been added or from which a component for specific health reasons has been removed, a food in which a component has been modified by technological or chemical means to provide a specific health benefit, or a food in which the bioavailability of a component has been modified, or a combination of any of them.

Although the terms "nutraceutical" and "functional food" are used commonly around the world, there is no consensus on their meaning. According to

#### *Functional Foods*

the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, of the Food Directorate of Health Canada, the following definitions have been proposed: A functional food is similar in appearance to, or may be, a conventional food, is consumed as part of a usual diet, and is demonstrated to have physiological benefits and/or reduce the risk of chronic disease beyond basic nutritional functions. Nutraceutical is a product produced from foods but sold in powders, pills, and other medicinal forms not generally associated with food and demonstrated to have physiological benefits or provide protection against chronic disease. Functional food is clearly a different category than a nutraceutical, a pharmafood, or a dietary supplement. It is a food not a drug since it has beneficial health effects usually disease preventive and not therapeutic properties [5].

### **2. Functional foods categories**

The functional foods of plant or animal origin according to their action can be categorized as:


Functional foods can be in many forms. Some may be conventional foods with bioactive components that can now be identified and linked to positive health effects. Some may be fortified or enhanced foods, specifically formulated to reduce disease risk. Consumers can already choose from a wide variety of foods that contain functional components either inherently (e.g., soy protein, fish, olive oil) or through fortification (e.g., folate-fortified milk). As additional bioactive components are identified, the opportunities for developing functional foods will be broad [7]. Foods that naturally provide a bioactive substance may be enhanced to increase the level present in the food (e.g., eggs with increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids). On the other side, foods that do not naturally contain a bioactive substance can be fortified (e.g., calcium-fortified orange juice).

#### **3. Functional foods development**

According to the FCC, a few steps have been suggested to be followed in order to bring the functional foods to the market [3]:


**5**

**Author details**

Vasiliki Lagouri

Athens, Greece

provided the original work is properly cited.

\*Address all correspondence to: vlagouri@pharm.uoa.gr

*Introductory Chapter: Functional Foods DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82304*

scientific basis for these regulations [9].

4.Development of the appropriate food vehicle.

5.Marketing the product to the public and educating about the health benefits.

Scientific understanding of the way in which specific food components affect body processes involved in health and well-being enables the development of markers that could confirm the impact of the new food products and could also be used in their safety assessment [8]. The development of functional foods using the innovative food technology and biochemical methods can offer beneficial effects to the consumers for well-being and reduction of the risk of disease. The design and the operation of such studies need to be carefully performed in order to give the scientific evidence for the approval of the health claims and the successful production of new functional foods. The development of functional foods, with their accompanying health claims, will proceed with progress in food regulation, which is the means to guarantee the validity of the claims as well as the safety of the food. Science in itself cannot be regulated and functional food science provides only the

6.Long-term studies on populations for the overall product effectiveness.

7.Measurement of the public attitudes toward functional food.

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of

*Functional Foods*

therapeutic properties [5].

categorized as:

vegetables).

**2. Functional foods categories**

the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, of the Food Directorate of Health Canada, the following definitions have been proposed: A functional food is similar in appearance to, or may be, a conventional food, is consumed as part of a usual diet, and is demonstrated to have physiological benefits and/or reduce the risk of chronic disease beyond basic nutritional functions. Nutraceutical is a product produced from foods but sold in powders, pills, and other medicinal forms not generally associated with food and demonstrated to have physiological benefits or provide protection against chronic disease. Functional food is clearly a different category than a nutraceutical, a pharmafood, or a dietary supplement. It is a food not a drug since it has beneficial health effects usually disease preventive and not

The functional foods of plant or animal origin according to their action can be

1.Vitamins and minerals fortification (e.g., vit C, folic acid, calcium, iron).

2.Cholesterol reduction (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols).

4.Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics (e.g., yoghourt, kefir, fruits,

5.Phytochemicals (e.g., phenolic compounds, carotenoids, lycopene) [6].

Functional foods can be in many forms. Some may be conventional foods with bioactive components that can now be identified and linked to positive health effects. Some may be fortified or enhanced foods, specifically formulated to reduce disease risk. Consumers can already choose from a wide variety of foods that contain functional components either inherently (e.g., soy protein, fish, olive oil) or through fortification (e.g., folate-fortified milk). As additional bioactive components are identified, the opportunities for developing functional foods will be broad [7]. Foods that naturally provide a bioactive substance may be enhanced to increase the level present in the food (e.g., eggs with increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids). On the other side, foods that do not naturally contain a bioactive substance can be

According to the FCC, a few steps have been suggested to be followed in order to

1.Study the link between the particular food component and health benefits.

3.Human studies which involve human appropriate dosages of bioactive com-

2.In vitro and in vivo studies with nonliving and animal specimens.

3.Dietary fiber (e.g. nondigestible carbohydrates and lignin).

fortified (e.g., calcium-fortified orange juice).

bring the functional foods to the market [3]:

pounds and testing for adverse side effects.

**3. Functional foods development**

**4**

4.Development of the appropriate food vehicle.


Scientific understanding of the way in which specific food components affect body processes involved in health and well-being enables the development of markers that could confirm the impact of the new food products and could also be used in their safety assessment [8]. The development of functional foods using the innovative food technology and biochemical methods can offer beneficial effects to the consumers for well-being and reduction of the risk of disease. The design and the operation of such studies need to be carefully performed in order to give the scientific evidence for the approval of the health claims and the successful production of new functional foods. The development of functional foods, with their accompanying health claims, will proceed with progress in food regulation, which is the means to guarantee the validity of the claims as well as the safety of the food. Science in itself cannot be regulated and functional food science provides only the scientific basis for these regulations [9].

### **Author details**

Vasiliki Lagouri Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

\*Address all correspondence to: vlagouri@pharm.uoa.gr

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

#### **References**

[1] Shimizu T. Health claims on functional foods: The Japanese regulations and an international comparison. Nutrition Research Reviews. 2003;**16**(2):241-252

[2] The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Regulation no 1924/2006 of the European parliament and of the council on nutrition and health claims made on foods. Official Journal of the European Union. 2006;**404**:9-25

[3] Martirosyan DM, Singh J. A new definition for functional food by FFC: What makes a new definition unique? Functional Foods in Health and Disease. 2015;**5**(6):209-223

[4] Kris-Etherton PM, Hecker KD, Bonanome A, Coval SM, Binkoski AE, Hilpert KF, et al. Bioactive compounds in foods: Their role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The American Journal of Medicine. 2002;**113**:71-88

[5] Health Canada Policy Paper: Nutraceuticals/Functional Foods and Health Claims on Foods, Therapeutic Products Programme and the Food Directorate from the Health Protection Branch 1998

[6] Roberfroid MB. In: Gibson GR, William CM, editors. Functional Foods Concept to Product. 1st ed. Abington Hall, Abington, Cambridge: Woodhead Publishing; 2000. pp. 9-25

[7] O'Donnell CD. Ten trends in nutraceutical ingredients. Prepared Foods. 2003;**172**:89-92

[8] Aggett PJ et al. Scientific concepts of functional foods in Europe consensus document. British Journal of Nutrition. 1999;**81**:Sl-S27

[9] Roberfroid MB. A European consensus of scientific concepts of functional foods. Nutrition. 2000;**16**:689-691

Section 2

Functional Foods - Properties

and Technology

7

Section 2
