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Functional Foods and their Bioactive Compounds as Potential Therapeutic Agents...
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Functional Foods and their Bioactive Compounds as Potential Therapeutic Agents against Chronic Diseases

A special issue of Medicines (ISSN 2305-6320).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2019) | Viewed by 35527

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Antonios E. Koutelidakis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Human Nutrition, Laboratory of Nutrition and Public Health, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of the Aegean, GR-81400 Lemnos, Greece
Interests: nutrition and health; functional foods; bioactive compounds; bioactivity and bioavailability; phytochemicals and chronic diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A great number of studies support that the consumption of specific conventional or processed functional foods may contribute, within a balanced diet, to the prevention of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, cancer, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and neurodegenerative diseases. 

Several bioactive compounds may have a significant role in disease prevention and treatment, beneficially affecting the levels of specific biomarkers. Dietary fibers, phytosterols, oleic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, phytochemicals, and bioactive peptides are some examples of food constituents that may effectively affect the pathophysiology of several chronic diseases. Nevertheless, various factors may interact prior to or during digestion, affecting the bioavailability and, thus, bioactivity of functional foods.

This Special Issue focuses on the further investigation of the role of functional foods and bioactive compounds on disease prevention and treatment, based on clinical and epidemiological evidence.

We welcome papers reporting latest evidence-based results of the effect of specific bioactive compounds and functional foods on biomarkers of chronic diseases (cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obesity, etc.). Animal experiments, clinical trials, and epidemiological studies, but also in vitro studies, meta-analyses, and review articles are welcome. Studies concerning the bioavailability of bioactive compounds and their stability after processing (e.g., encapsulation) are especially welcome.

Prof. Dr. Antonios E. Koutelidakis
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • functional foods
  • bioactive compounds
  • bioavailability
  • phytochemicals
  • vitamins
  • peptides
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • cancer
  • metabolic syndrome
  • neurodegenerative diseases

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2258 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Anthocyanins Stability from Pomegranate Juice (Punica Granatum L. Cv Ermioni) under a Simulated Digestion Process
by Chrysavgi Gardeli, Kalliopi Varela, Eleni Krokida and Athanasios Mallouchos
Medicines 2019, 6(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines6030090 - 20 Aug 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4281
Abstract
Background: Pomegranate gained a widespread popularity as a functional food due to the high content of bioactive components of the whole fruit, as well as its juice and extracts. There is a large amount of research that assigns them very important functions for [...] Read more.
Background: Pomegranate gained a widespread popularity as a functional food due to the high content of bioactive components of the whole fruit, as well as its juice and extracts. There is a large amount of research that assigns them very important functions for the human organism. Methods: The anthocyanins (ACNs) of pomegranate juice (PJ) from the Ermioni variety are quantitatively identified and their stability under a simulated digestion process (SDP) is investigated. ACNs, as well as phenolic compounds, were isolated through solid phase extraction and determined using high-performance liquid chromatography in every stage of the SDP. Total phenolics, total monomeric ACNs, polymeric color and antioxidant activity were also determined in pomegranate juice and during the digestion process. Results: The predominant anthocyanin was Cy-3-glucoside followed by the corresponding 3,5-diglucoside, which accounted for 40.8% and 27.4% of the total ACN content, respectively. About 65% of the total monomeric ACN content remained intact by the end of the simulated digestion process. Conclusions: The PJ of the Ermioni variety seems to retain a large amount of the bioactive compounds after the SDP. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) remain almost stable during the SDP, suggesting that the products formed during ACN degradation maintain the antioxidant activity of the parent molecule. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and their Bioactive Compounds as Potential Therapeutic Agents against Chronic Diseases)
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13 pages, 277 KiB  
Article
Increased Functional Foods’ Consumption and Mediterranean Diet Adherence May Have a Protective Effect in the Appearance of Gastrointestinal Diseases: A Case–Control Study
by Ioannis-Nektarios Elmaliklis, Athanasia Liveri, Basileios Ntelis, Konstantina Paraskeva, Ioannis Goulis and Antonios E. Koutelidakis
Medicines 2019, 6(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines6020050 - 9 Apr 2019
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6603
Abstract
Background: Epidemiological studies have suggested a possible correlation between nutritional factors and gastrointestinal diseases. Methods: A case–control study was designed in order to investigate if functional foods consumption and Mediterranean diet adherence have a positive effect in ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel [...] Read more.
Background: Epidemiological studies have suggested a possible correlation between nutritional factors and gastrointestinal diseases. Methods: A case–control study was designed in order to investigate if functional foods consumption and Mediterranean diet adherence have a positive effect in ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. In total, 142 patients (cases) and 147 gender-matched healthy people (controls) participated in the study. Functional food consumption was screened by using a Food Frequency Questionnaire based on the NHANES study, while Mediterranean diet adoption was evaluated by a 14-item Med Diet Assessment tool based on the PREDIMED study. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS-22. Results: In the previous 2–3 years, the controls had more frequently consumed some categories (probiotics, prebiotics-enriched, and low-fat foods) and some kinds of functional foods (mountain tea, berries, pomegranate, oats, mastics, turmeric, soybeans, and raisins) compared to the cases (p < 0.05). Healthy people were more adherent to the Mediterranean diet than patients (p < 0.05). A multifactor analysis showed that the augmented score of the Mediterranean diet and the augmented consumption of categories and kinds of functional foods were protective factors in the appearance of gastrointestinal diseases. Conclusions: More studies should be conducted in order to further investigate the possible association between specific food components and gastrointestinal diseases’ pathophysiology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and their Bioactive Compounds as Potential Therapeutic Agents against Chronic Diseases)

Review

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18 pages, 472 KiB  
Review
Dietary Supplements on Controlling Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms and Relapses: Current Clinical Evidence and Future Perspectives
by Christina Tryfonos, Maria Mantzorou, Dimitris Fotiou, Michael Vrizas, Konstantinos Vadikolias, Eleni Pavlidou and Constantinos Giaginis
Medicines 2019, 6(3), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines6030095 - 12 Sep 2019
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 8961
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) constitutes a chronic progressive demyelinating disease which negatively affects the central nervous system. MS symptoms detrimentally affect the quality of life, as well as the life expectancy of MS patients. In this aspect, the present study aims to critically [...] Read more.
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) constitutes a chronic progressive demyelinating disease which negatively affects the central nervous system. MS symptoms detrimentally affect the quality of life, as well as the life expectancy of MS patients. In this aspect, the present study aims to critically summarize and evaluate the currently available clinical studies focusing on the potential beneficial effects of dietary supplements on controlling MS symptomatology and relapse. Methods: PubMed database was comprehensively searched, using relative keywords to identify clinical trials that investigated the beneficial effects of dietary supplementation against MS symptomatology and progression. 40 clinical trials were found, which were divided into categories. Results: Nutritional status of MS patients, as well as supplementation have been suggested as potential factors affecting progression. Several substantial studies have documented a systematically high prevalence of vitamin A, B12 and D3 deficiency amongst MS patients. At present, clinical data have suggested that most of the dietary supplements under study may exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, improving depression symptomatology and quality of life overall. However, malnutrition risk in MS patients has not been adequately explored in order for more precise conclusions to be drawn. The supplements that may have a positive effect on MS are vitamins, fatty acids, antioxidants, phytochemicals and melatonin. Conclusions: Several dietary supplements may decrease inflammation and fatigue, also increasing also autoimmunity tolerance in MS patients, and thus improving quality of life and life expectancy. Currently, there is no effective clinical indication for applying dietary supplementation as complementary treatment against MS symptomatology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and their Bioactive Compounds as Potential Therapeutic Agents against Chronic Diseases)
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24 pages, 502 KiB  
Review
Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds: A Review of Its Possible Role on Weight Management and Obesity’s Metabolic Consequences
by Melina Konstantinidi and Antonios E. Koutelidakis
Medicines 2019, 6(3), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines6030094 - 9 Sep 2019
Cited by 127 | Viewed by 14752
Abstract
Background: Weight management and obesity prevention is a basic aim of health organizations in order to decrease the prevalence of various metabolic disorders. The aim of the present review article was the evaluation of the possible role of functional foods and their bioactive [...] Read more.
Background: Weight management and obesity prevention is a basic aim of health organizations in order to decrease the prevalence of various metabolic disorders. The aim of the present review article was the evaluation of the possible role of functional foods and their bioactive compounds as alternative way to promote weight management and prevent obesity and its metabolic consequences. Methods: Approximately 100 articles were selected from Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, by using relative key words, and based mainly on recent animal, clinical or epidemiological studies. Results: The literature review highlighted the possible effect of specific functional foods such as coffee, green tea, berries, nuts, olive oil, pomegranate, avocado, and ginger. Specific bioactive compounds of those foods—such as caffeine, catechins, gallic acid, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, polyphenols, oleuropein, capsaicin, and quercetin—may contribute to weight management, obesity prevention, and obesity’s metabolic consequences. The possible mechanisms include effect on satiety, lipid absorption, fatty acids beta oxidation, stimulation of thermogenesis, etc. Conclusions: Functional foods, as part of a balanced diet, could be useful in the direction of weight management and decrease of obesity’s’ metabolic consequences. However, the scientific evidence is unclear and in most cases controversial and more clinical and epidemiological studies are needed in order to further investigate the mechanisms of their possible effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and their Bioactive Compounds as Potential Therapeutic Agents against Chronic Diseases)
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