{"id":5116,"date":"2024-03-27T15:32:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T10:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babrone.avfu.ac.in\/blog\/?p=5116"},"modified":"2024-06-14T13:06:55","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T07:36:55","slug":"the-effects-of-functional-food-on-animal-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/babrone.avfu.ac.in\/blog\/?p=5116","title":{"rendered":"The effects of functional food on animal health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manoj Kumar Kalita1<\/sup> & Prerona Patowary2<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/sup><\/em>1<\/sup><\/em>Assistant Professor, Department of ARGO, LCVSc, AAU, Joyhing, North Lakhimpur<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

2<\/sup><\/em>Scientist, AAU-Goat Research Station, Burnihut, Assam<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Foods that provide more health advantages than just basic nourishment are referred to as functional foods. To offer health benefits beyond their traditional nutrient composition, these foods are frequently supplemented or fortified with bioactive ingredients like probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. The concept behind functional food is to offer certain health advantages above and beyond basic nourishment, possibly contributing to the prevention of disease or enhancing general health. It’s important to keep in mind that even while some foods may provide some health benefits, a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are always ideal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Functional foods can include: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Fortified foods:<\/em> These are foods that have extra nutrients added to them that might not be present normally. Examples of this type of food include salt and orange juice fortified with iodine or calcium.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    1. Probiotics:<\/em> Live beneficial bacteria can enhance digestion and gut health in foods like yoghurt, kefir, and some fermented goods.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      1. Foods enhanced with omega-3 fatty acids:<\/em> Due to their proven heart-healthy properties, certain foods, such as milk and eggs, may be fortified with these fatty acids.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        1. Foods that have additional plant sterols:<\/em> These can help lower cholesterol levels and are often added to margarine or certain spreads.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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          1. Functional beverages:<\/em> These are made with additional vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, or other healthy components. Examples of these include vitamin-enriched water and nutrient-rich energy drinks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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            Animal diets that have been specifically prepared and provide extra health benefits over and above basic nourishment are referred to as functional foods for animals. Like functional foods for humans, these foods are made to support the general health and wellbeing of animals. They may include particular components or supplements designed to provide extra nutrition or to address a range of health issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Here are a few instances of animal-friendly functional foods:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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            1. Joint Health Supplements: <\/em>To promote joint health in older pets or those who are prone to joint problems, several pet meals are supplemented with additional glucosamine and chondroitin.<\/span><\/li>\n
            2. Digestive Health Formulas<\/em>: Pet foods that have probiotics or prebiotics added to them to support a healthy digestive system.<\/span><\/li>\n
            3. Dental Health Treats<\/em>: Some treats, including dental chews, are designed to help pets maintain good oral hygiene and lessen plaque accumulation.<\/span><\/li>\n
            4. Weight Management Foods:<\/em> Pets can lose weight or maintain a healthy weight with the help of specialised formulation.<\/span><\/li>\n
            5. Skin and Coat Health:<\/em> Pets with lustrous coats and good skin can benefit from foods containing omega-3 fatty acids or other supplements.<\/span><\/li>\n
            6. Hypoallergenic Formulas:<\/em> Diets with limited ingredients or special protein sources that are intended for pets with dietary sensitivities or allergies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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              Although the phrases “nutraceuticals” and “functional foods” are synonymous, they pertain to distinct categories of food products that provide health advantages beyond mere nourishment. The primary distinctions between the two are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
               <\/span><\/td>\nNutraceuticals<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nFunctional foods<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Definition<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nNutraceuticals are products derived from food sources (or food components) that are purported to provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. These may include dietary supplements, herbal products, vitamins, minerals, or other natural substances used for medicinal purposes.<\/span><\/td>\nThese are conventional foods that have been fortified, enriched, or enhanced with additional nutrients or bioactive compounds to provide health benefits beyond their basic nutritional value. Examples include fortified juices, probiotic yogurts, or cereals with added vitamins.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Form<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nThese can be extracts, isolates, supplements, or concentrated forms of bioactive substances obtained from foods or specific nutrients and administered in pill, capsule, powder, or liquid form.<\/span><\/td>\nThese are whole foods or food products that are modified or enhanced to include additional health-promoting components.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Regulation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nOften categorized as dietary supplements or herbal products and are regulated differently from conventional foods. They might fall under different regulatory frameworks depending on the country, like the FDA’s regulations on dietary supplements in the U.S.<\/span><\/td>\nTypically regulated as conventional foods by food regulatory agencies, such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the United States.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Purpose<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nOften used with a more specific health-related purpose or targeted health benefits, such as supplements for joint health, immune support, or cognitive function.<\/span><\/td>\nPrimarily aimed at promoting overall health and well-being through the consumption of everyday foods that are supplemented with beneficial nutrients or compounds.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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              There are a number of ways that functional food can work, including –<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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              1. Antimicrobial substance production:<\/em> capable of producing antibiotics, bacteriocins, and acids with antimicrobial qualities to fight off hazardous organisms.<\/span><\/li>\n
              2. Competition for adhesion sites<\/em>: can rival hazardous microorganisms for locations where they would typically adhere, keeping them from taking control.<\/span><\/li>\n
              3. Reduction of bacterial toxin metabolism:<\/em> can aid in reducing the harmful effects of bacterial toxins on the body by reducing their metabolism.<\/span><\/li>\n
              4. Immune response modulation:<\/em> can improve immunity by boosting the phagocytic activity of natural killer cells and macrophages, two crucial immune system constituents.<\/span><\/li>\n
              5. Variation in enzyme secretion:<\/em> may be able to affect the way some enzymes are secreted, which may influence different bodily physiological processes.Top of Form<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Method to enhance active components in food:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n