{"title":"Cholesterol-lowering action of plant sterol-enriched products","authors":"S. AbuMweis, C. Nicolle, Peter Jones","doi":"10.1616/1476-2137.14215","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1616/1476-2137.14215","url":null,"abstract":"Plant sterols are naturally occurring compounds that interfere with cholesterol absorption and thus reduce blood cholesterol levels. The objective of this review is to present recent advances in knowledge of the cholesterol-lowering action of plant sterols, focusing on the efficacy of plant sterol-enriched products, including full-fat, low-fat and non-fat food products. Although the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of plant sterols is well acknowledged, additional studies are needed to determine whether dietary cholesterol levels affect the cholesterol-lowering action of plant sterols, to establish the best time of day to consume plant sterol-enriched products, and to assess the optimal dose frequency of plant sterol intake. Fat spreads enriched with plant sterols/stanols have been shown to be effective in reducing circulating cholesterol levels in healthy adults with both normal and high cholesterol levels, as well as in children with hypercholesterolaemia. Such spreads can be used in combination with other approaches including a healthy diet, statin therapy and exercise for controlling blood cholesterol levels. Originally, plant sterols/stanols have been incorporated into fat spreads and, more recently, into low- or non-fat food products. However, the efficacy of plant sterols as cholesterol-lowering agents depends on their proper solubilization, while the majority of studies to date have incorporated plant sterols into vegetable oil-based spreads. Therefore, until more information is available, data from older studies using full-fat spreads cannot be used as a platform to promote novel and, as of yet, inadequately tested low-fat and non-fat plant sterol-enriched products.","PeriodicalId":435954,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Technology Bulletin: Functional Foods","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123157887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Carbohydrates and fibre: a review of functionality in health and wellbeing","authors":"A. Jefferson, K. Cowbrough","doi":"10.1616/1476-2137.14071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1616/1476-2137.14071","url":null,"abstract":"In the past, carbohydrates have been thought of simply as a source of energy and fibre. However, recent research has revealed a myriad of phytoactive chemicals contained within fibre fractions of carbohydrates, as well as a wide range of beneficial physiological functions (such as increased transit time, production of short chain fatty acids, increased satiety etc) which can be ascribed to various substances found in carbohydrates. This review outlines the role of carbohydrates in health and looks at the different types of carbohydrates, current dietary intakes, and the impact of fibre on prevention of cancer, heart disease and weight gain. In addition, the review explores the prebiotic functionality of resistant starches.","PeriodicalId":435954,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Technology Bulletin: Functional Foods","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126643974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Kefir ? a complex probiotic","authors":"E. Farnworth","doi":"10.1616/1476-2137.13938","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1616/1476-2137.13938","url":null,"abstract":"Kefir is a fermented milk drink produced by the actions of bacteria and yeasts contained in kefir grains, and is reported to have a unique taste and unique properties. During fermentation, peptides and exopolysaccharides are formed that have been shown to have bioactive properties. Moreover, in vitro and animal trials have shown kefir and its constituents to have anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antiviral and antifungal properties. Although kefir has been produced and consumed in Eastern Europe for a long period of time, few clinical trials are found in the scientific literature to support the health claims attributed to kefir. The large number of microorganisms in kefir, the variety of possible bioactive compounds that could be formed during fermentation, and the long list of reputed benefits of eating kefir make this fermented dairy product a complex","PeriodicalId":435954,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Technology Bulletin: Functional Foods","volume":"33 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133904038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Functional foods in the USA: emphasis on probiotic foods","authors":"M. Sanders, J. Heimbach","doi":"10.1616/1476-2137.13616","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1616/1476-2137.13616","url":null,"abstract":"The role that functional foods might play in enhancing human health is continuing to develop. Comprehensive approaches, which will enable scientists both to understand the total human physiological response to diet (through application of human genomics and metabolomics) and evaluate health maintenance rather than disease incidence, will advance this field greatly. In the United States, functional foods remain of interest to consumers, although there is currently no legal definition of a functional food. One functional ingredient, probiotics, shows much promise as a health-promoting addition to foods, or as a basis for dietary supplements. A growth industry in the United States, the probiotics industry must develop a proactive policy in order to bolster consumer confidence in commercial probiotic products. Many publications suggest that commercial probiotic products do not comply with label claims. This article seeks to examine probiotics as functional food ingredients and the regulatory framework for labelling and describing the benefits of functional foods, as well as dietary supplements.","PeriodicalId":435954,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Technology Bulletin: Functional Foods","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123196943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Perspectives on foods for specific health uses (FOSHU)","authors":"C. Shortt","doi":"10.1616/1476-2137.12686","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1616/1476-2137.12686","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":435954,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Technology Bulletin: Functional Foods","volume":"70 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124405601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}