Pharmacognosy with the Basics of Plant Biochemistry - Kovalyov V. M. 2004

Special Part
Biologically Active Dietary Supplements
Main Trends in the Development of Dietary Supplements and Functional Foods in Ukraine

A new field of knowledge, nutraceuticals (the science of Nutrition), is also developing in Ukraine. It studies The Role and importance of nutrient substances (Primary and secondary metabolites, Vitamins, microelements, etc.) for human vital Functions. Dietary Supplements and specialized food products developed in Ukraine are intended to:

increase the body's resistance to harmful environmental factors (by enhancing cellular protection), particularly improving adaptation to adverse conditions in ecologically hazardous areas;

accelerate the binding and elimination of foreign and toxic substances from the body;

normalize the microbiocenosis of the gastrointestinal tract;

target and correct impaired METABOLISM of specific substances;

regulate (within the physiological limits of functional activity) the action of Organs and systems, particularly The Nervous system.

In Ukraine, dietary supplements and specialized food products include items with vitamin, immunomodulatory, adaptogenic, antioxidant, general tonic, and anti-stress effects. As evidenced by the core principles of adaptation theory, a necessary condition for reducing the risk of pathological conditions is the mobilization of the body's adaptogenic mechanisms under The Influence of damaging factors. This occurs when BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES from multicomponent herbal preparations, dietary supplements, or pure substances simultaneously act on key Links of the adaptation system.

The adaptogenic effect depends on the composition of biologically active substances, which can be divided into the following groups:

compounds that regulate and normalize neuroendocrine mechanisms, including di- and triterpenoids, triterpene acids, essential oil components, bitters, and specific Glycosides;

compounds that normalize the body's functional systems, including the antioxidant and immune systems, such as bioflavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins, and metal complexes with Organic compounds (mostly Polysaccharides and Proteins), etc.

A fundamental objective for Ukrainian researchers is the search for radioprotective and immunomodulatory foods that increase the body's resistance to adverse environmental factors, reduce the NEGATIVE IMPACT OF radiation, and lower the risk of radiation-induced cancers. It is well established that radiation-induced Metabolic Disorders can be corrected through nutrition, which acts both as a factor increasing radiation dose load and, conversely, as a protective agent. Reductions in internal radiation doses can be achieved by decreasing the proportion of radionuclide-contaminated foods in the daily diet, increasing the Biological value of traditional foods, and creating new products with tailored properties. A top priority is enriching the diet with nutrients that prevent the uptake of radionuclides or accelerate their excretion (dietary fiber, alginates, Pectins). Ukrainians should significantly increase their consumption of biologically active substances, antioxidants, and immunomodulators—including vitamins, Amino Acids, mineral salt and essential fatty acid complexes, and bioflavonoids—which enhance the body's resistance. The challenges of radioprotective nutrition for populations living in ecologically unfavorable regions are reflected in the National Program of Ukraine for Mitigating the Consequences of the Chornobyl NPP Accident.

Research on nutrients and food products in Ukraine is being conducted in the following areas:

development of recipes for bread, bakery, and confectionery products enriched with dietary supplements;

utilization of bee products (honey, pollen, bee bread, royal jelly)—valuable broad-spectrum adaptogens that concentrate not only plant-derived nutrients but also a complex of biologically active compounds; these products activate the body's defenses, improve the function of The Heart, Liver, and gastrointestinal tract, stimulate hematopoiesis, enhance mental and physical performance, and exhibit radioprotective effects; a National Program exists for The Development of such products;

industrial production of ß-carotene and Water-soluble carotene, and the development of products enriched with them to reduce the risk of Cancer;

development of food compositions derived from aquatic organisms (hydrolysates, protein-carbohydrate concentrates); clinical research results indicate their efficacy in the Treatment of hematological, oncological, and endocrine disorders;

production of concentrates (pastes, purées, nectars) manufactured by vacuum concentration of sugar-free fruit and berry juices; these contain two to five times more micro- and macroelements, vitamins, pectins, bioflavonoids, and Other Compounds than the raw fruits and berries themselves;

utilization of the adsorbing properties of pectins, alginates, and other polysaccharides (regarding radionuclides and heavy metals); it is recommended to add them to the recipes of almost all food products, dietary supplements, and specialized food products;

a separate research area focuses on utilizing food albumin from animal Blood as a biologically active substance, characterized by a unique Chemical Composition and a high concentration of heme iron.

Thus, an industry of preventive and therapeutic nutrition is emerging in Ukraine, drawing the attention of enterprises not only in the food sector but also in the pharmaceutical industry, such as Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant, Halychpharm JSC, Lubnypharm JSC, and Kyiv Vitamin Plant, among others.