Bioactive-enriched foods for better health

Trials to determine the effects of bioactive molecules on human health rarely involve the functional food as a whole. In contrast, the EU-funded project PATHWAY-27 (Pivotal assessment of the effects of bioactives on health and wellbeing. From human genoma to food industry - pathway) considers the bioactives as an integral part of the bioactive-food complex. The project researchers are also looking at key aspects of manufacturing of such bioactive-enriched foods (BEFs).

To combat some risk factors of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), PATHWAY-27 investigates three promising bioactives: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), β-glucan (BG), and anthocyanins (Acs). These compounds are being tested alone or in combination as incorporated into dairy-, bakery- and egg-based products. This should help determine optimal combinations for new BEFs within these three different food matrices.

So far, the researchers have evaluated all 45 BEFs (three per food matrix, five types of enrichment per food) for in vitro digestibility, consumer acceptance and shelf-life. Results were loaded into a specially designed database to aid choosing the best product formulations (one in each food matrix, enriched with five combinations of bioactives) for pilot scale production; testing in three pilot intervention studies is currently underway. The most effective BEF from each matrix will then be tested in a multi-centre, double blind, and placebo-controlled intervention trial.

In parallel, the researchers are using two cell model systems – adipocytes (fat cells) and liver cells (hepatocytes) – to determine the effect of DHA, BG and AC alone and in combination on biochemical pathways involved in the development of MetS. In particular, they assessed the effects of BEFs on fat cell differentiation and function based on lipid accumulation and metabolism, expression of specific markers and secretion of adipokines and cytokines. Evaluation of the effects of the selected bioactives on lipid metabolism and insulin resistance in hepatocytes is ongoing.

PATHWAY-27 is also preparing comprehensive guidelines on health claim proposals for the food industry, first and foremost SMEs, as well as the scientific community. To ensure effective dissemination, a regularly updated project website has been launched and progress reports on communications have been distributed.

Providing scientific evidence to underpin health claims for BEFs will benefit producers and consumers. The initiative will also support the implementation of European legislation on health claims by delivering scientifically sound data to policymakers.