Nutrition additives, definition

These two examples illustrate that different food additive definitions tend to be very similar because a general consensus has been reached among the majority of countries as to what an additive is. It should also be pointed out that a special statute is normally reserved for dietetic products, nutritive substances added to food products (e.g., vitamins, amino acids, minerals, etc.), technological processing aids, and aromas. 

Agriculture. Most forages provide insufficient sodium for animal feeding and may lack adequate chloride. Thus salt supplementation is a critical part of a nutritionally balanced diet for animals. In addition, because animals have a definite appetite for salt, it can be used as a deflvery mechanism to ensure adequate intake of less palatable nutrients and as a feed limiter. Salt is an excellent carrier for trace minerals. Salt, either in loose form or as compressed blocks, can be mixed with feed or fed free-choice to improve animal health and productivity (see Feeds and feed additives). 

By definition, a nutraceutical (derived from the term nutritional pharmaceutical ) is a foodstuff (fortified food or dietary supplement) that is held to provide health or medical benefits in addition to its basic nutritional value [1], Nutraceuticals derived from botanicals deliver a concentrated form of presumed bioactive agents from plants that are not generally part of the food supply. The term nutraceutical has no regulatory definition. Similarly, functional foods, as defined by the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), are foods that by virtue of physiologically active food components, provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition [2], For the purposes of this review, these two terms will be differentiated by the form in which they are consumed. Nutraceuticals refers to dietary supplements most often found in pill or capsule form functional foods are ingested as part of a normal food pattern. Both are intended to provide beneficial effects beyond their nutritional value, and contribute to an improved state of health and/or reduction of risk of disease. 

It is apparent that at this stage of development definitive conclusions are premature, and that this aspect of amino acid and lipide metabolism will be pursued vigorously in the near future. It is of considerable interest to us that biotin and pantothenic acid deficiencies affect amino acid transport in L. arabinosus, since both vitamins are known to play a prominent role in lipide biosynthesis. We are currently reexamining the turnover of lipide fractions in nutritionally normal and vitamin-deficient cell types to determine whether there is some relation between this aspect of metabolism and amino acid transport. In any case, the nature of the catalytic steps involved in amino acid transport is still unknown to us. They probably occur in the peripheral cell membrane, but even this elementary and widely accepted belief will require additional study before it can be accepted beyond doubt as an established fact. 

Adequate calcium nutrition during childhood and adolescence is thought to bean important deterrent to osteoporosis in later life. A one-year study of 149 girls (8 years old) revealed the effects of consuming a typical diet (900 mg Ca/day) or a diet supplemented with an additional 850 mg Ca/day Bonjour el al, 1997). The Ca supplement was supplied by specially prepared biscuits, juices, and candy bars (rather thar pills) to assure compliance. To view some of the data, the density at the femoral diaphysis increased by 5% (unsupplemented) and by 6% (plus calcium) during the 1-ycar period. The density at the lumbar spine increased by 4% (unsupplemented) and by 4% (plus calcium). The data dernonstrated a dear and definite increase in bone density at some sites, but not at others. This study, as well as others Johnston et al., 1992), tend to show that caicium supplements to children can benefit bones of the appendicular skeleton, but not the axial skeleton. The appendicular skeleton includes the pelvis, arm bones, and leg bones. The axial skeleton includes the skull, vertebra, ribs, and sternum. 

Webster defines the term mineral as any chemical or compound occurring naturally as a product of inorganic processes. Since this chapter is primarily concerned with the use of minerals in plant and animal nutrition, terms such as plant nutrients , trace elements , fertilizer nutrients , and mineral additives are used within the context of Webster s definition, including inorganic fertilizers derived from naturally occurring minerals. 

Among the various definitions of food additives that can be found in international legislation and accords is the one adopted by the European Union (EU) in its European Community Directive 89/107/EEC of the Council of 21 December 1988 any substance not normally consumed as a food in itself and not normally used as a characteristic ingredient of food whether or not it has nutritive value, the intentional addition of which to food for a technological purpose in the manufacture, processing, preparation. 

Nutraceuticals are nonspecific biological therapies used to promote wellness, prevent malignant processes, and control symptoms. It is a broad umbrella term used to describe any product derived from food soiuces that provides extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value foimd in foods. The definition of nutraceuticals and related products often depends on the soiuce. Phytochemicals and antioxidants are two specific types of nutraceuticals. It has been proved that phytochemicals found in foods may help to provide protection from diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, for example, carotenoids found in carrots. Antioxidants may be helpful in avoiding chronic diseases, by preventing oxidative damage in body [8]. There are multiple different types of products that come imder the category of nutraceuticals ... 

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