Words -- What you need New Food Phytochemicals, Functional to know about... Foods, and Nutraceuticals

Recent scientific research has focused health maintenance and disease The concept of functional foods has on food components that have prevention are found in plants, somewhat different connotations in possible health benefits beyond general terms like “functional foods” different countries. In Japan, for traditional nutritional value. Scien- are sometimes used interchangeably example, functional foods are tists and food manufacturers have with “phytochemicals.” defined based on their use of natural coined several terms to describe these ingredients. In the United States, physiologically active components Here are three examples of however, the functional foods and the foods that contain them. phytochemicals. concept can include ingredients that are products of biotechnology. It is easy to be confused by the Genistein—a component of soy number of terms and the various associated with reduced risk of breast Nutraceutical definitions that are used, sometimes cancer One definition of nutraceutical is interchangeably, in this emerging any substance that may be consid- field. No legal, universally-accepted Lycopene—a vitamin-A-like ered a food or part of a food and definitions for functional foods or compound found in tomatoes and provides medical or health benefits, nutraceuticals exist in the United associated with reduced risk of including the prevention and treat- States. The following definitions are prostate cancer and heart disease ment of disease. Under this broad currently commonly accepted. definition, nutraceuticals might be Catechins—compounds found in isolated nutrients like vitamin E; Phytochemical green tea that may reduce risk for dietary supplements of any kind; “Phyto” comes from the Greek word cancer and heart disease processed foods; herbal products; or for plant. “Phytochemical” could genetically engineered foods. While refer to every naturally-occurring Functional food some individuals and groups use chemical in plants. In practice, This is a generic term for foods that nutraceutical as an umbrella term, however, nutritionists use “phy- have been linked to health benefits. others restrict the meaning to tochemical” to refer to naturally- The Institute of Medicine’s Food and isolated active compounds or dietary 1 occurring components of plants that Nutrition Board has defined func- supplements. have physiological effects in humans. tional foods as “any food or food Phytochemicals might prevent or ingredient that may provide a health The International Food Information delay chronic degenerative diseases benefit beyond the traditional nutri- Council 2 commissioned focus group and enhance human health. One ents it contains.” While most research studies with consumers in 1996 and group of plant chemicals is called and food product development 1997 to assess awareness and accep- “phytoestrogens” because they act efforts have focused on plant foods, tance of functional food concepts, like human estrogens. Phrases like several physiologically-active compo- gauge reaction to current and poten- “chemopreventive agents” are some- nents in foods from animal sources tial sources of functional compo- times used to describe phytochemicals also are being studied. Thus, func- nents, and evaluate reactions to thought to reduce risk for certain tional foods can be from either plant terminology. While participants types of cancer. Because most of the or animal sources. showed high awareness of the components currently of interest for concept of functional foods, they also were confused as to what is or

PM 1846 September 2000 is not considered a functional food. Summary Consumers in these studies preferred The list of food components that For additional the term “functional food” over may protect human health has information alternatives such as “designer foods,” grown rapidly in the past decade; Check these Internet sites. “pharmafoods,” “nutraceuticals,” however much more research is American Dietetic Association or “phytochemicals.” The study needed to understand position paper suggested that while classifying foods • the health benefits that these www.eatright.org/ with functional characteristics may components can offer, aphytochemicals.html be important to food manufacturers • how these benefits can be deliv- and others within the food industry, ered in foods, Institute of Food Technologists these terms are not necessary for • safe amounts of the components, scientific status summary paper consumer acceptance of the new and www.ift.org/resource/ products. The studies indicated that • potential interactions among index.html consumers accept information on the foods, components, and functional foods as long as it is prescribed and over-the-counter Guide to Dietary Supplements backed by credible sources and drugs. www.extension.iastate.edu/ sound science. nutrition/supplements Future research should clarify which In the United States functional foods foods or groups of foods play par- or nutraceuticals are not regulated as ticular roles in health maintenance; Check these publications. such because they are not legally for example, why eating fruits and All are available from ISU defined product categories. The vegetables is associated with reduced Extension county offices federal Food and Drug Administra- chronic disease. and on the ISU Extension tion (FDA) regulates functional publications page: foods under the rules applying to Meanwhile, the important message www.extension.iastate.edu/ conventional foods while dietary for consumers continues to be that Pages/pubs supplements are regulated under the there are no magic foods that will provision of the Dietary Supplement make up for an otherwise poor diet PM-1790 What You Need to Health and Education Act. The or other poor health behaviors such Know about Health Claims on boundaries between conventional as smoking or lack of exercise. Foods foods and dietary supplements can Knowledge of the positive effects of sometimes seem confusing because foods on health is evolving, and care PM-1855 The Health Value of dietary supplements can be marketed must be taken not to over-promote Fruits and Vegetables in food form as long as they are based on potential, but as yet un- labeled as a dietary supplement and proven, health benefits. PM-1798 What You Need not represented as a conventional to Know about the Health food. Benefits of Functional Foods

1 The Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board is an agency of the National Academy of Sciences, which was founded by Congress in 1863 to advise the government on scien- tific and technological matters. Prepared by Jane Love, Ph.D., food

2 scientist; Elisabeth Schafer, Ph.D., The International Food Information Council is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 extension nutritionist; and Diane Nelson, whose mission is to communicate science-based information on food safety and nutrition. extension communication specialist. Supported by the broad-based food, beverage, and agricultural industries, this organization Designed by Christa Burton, extension does not represent any one product or company. communication intern.

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