Nutraceuticals and Phytochemicals Flashcards
What is a nutraceutical?
Nutraceutical:
* Nutrient with pharmacological effects
* Food or part of food that provides medical or health benefits
* May prevent or treat disease
* Biologically active molecule
* Found in foods that may not be essential for maintenance of normal human functions
* May enhance human health and wellbeing
* May inhibit disease or improve human performance
What are other terms for nutraceuticals?
Alternative nutraceutical terms:
* Bioactive compound
* Bioactive substance
* Bioceutical
* Phytoceutical (originates from plants)
What are functional foods?
Functional foods:
* Foods or dietary components which provide an additional health benefit beyond its basic nutrition
* Usually at the whole food level
* Has physiological benefits
Examples of functional foods and their effects
Examples of functional foods and their effects
* Vegetables, nuts, fruits: Lycopene, ascorbic acid, xanthophylls, anthocynins, vitamins, PUFA> Decreases oxidative stress, decreases inflammation, decreases protein aggregation> neuroprotection, anticancer, antiglycemic, antiobesity, cardioprotective, memory enhancement
* Fish: Doxosahexanoic acid (DHA), Omega 3 fatty acids> Anti inflammatory, anticancer, reduces cardiovascular disease risk, reduces Parkinson’s disease, MS, Alzheimer’s disease
* Probiotics: Autism, depression, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease
* Conventional foods
* Nutraceuticals
* Prebiotics
* Fibre
* Plant sterols
* Plant stanols
What are other terms for functional foods?
Other terms for functional foods:
* Medical food
* Vitafoods
* Pharmafoods
* Nutritional supplements
Are the general public aware of functional foods?
Most people aren’t aware of the concept of functional foods.
Examples of nutraceuticals
Examples of nutraceuticals:
* Antioxidants
* Carotenoids
* Omega 3 fatty acids
* Collagen
* Prebiotics
* Probiotics
* Polyphenols
* Phytosterols
* Glucosamine
* Quercetin
* Catechins
* Whey proteins
* Chondroitin : joint health
* Dietary fibre
* Coenzyme Q: brain function and memory
What does bioactive mean?
Bioactive means biologically active, ellicits a biological effect.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants:
* Stable molecules that neutralize free radicals
* Neutralize harmful free radicals by donating an electron
* Protect against oxidative stress, cell damage
* Examples: ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), tocopherol (Vitamin E), beta carotene, selenium, flavanoids
Chondroitin
Chondroitin
* Chondroprotector: protects the cartilage that covers end of bones in joints
* Used for joint pain
* May maintain cartiliage integrity
* May be effective in osteoarthritis
Plant sterols
- Plant sterols and their derivatives act in the small bowel by competitively inhibiting intestinal absorption of cholesterol
- Able to lower LDL
What is the “matrix” effect?
The “matrix” effect:
* Complex assembly of nutrients and non-nutrients interacting physically and chemically that influences the release, mass transfer, accessibility, digestibility and stability of many food compounds (Aguilera, 2019)
What activates Cytochrome P450?
Hyperforin from St John’s Wort activates Cytochrome P450
What inhibits Cytochrome P450?
Cytochrome P450 is INHIBITED by:
Isothiocyanates: cruciferous vegetables
Furanocoumatins: Grapefruit juice
Which drugs does St John’s Wort reduce the activity of?
St John’s Wort reduces the activity of:
* Cyclosporin
* Indinavir
* Warfarin
* Theophylline
* Digoxin
* Psycotropic agents
* Narcotic agents
* Contraceptives
