METABOLOMICS IN FOOD SCIENCE: EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS ON THE CONSUMER

摘要

Traditionally, the term 'healthcare industry' has referred to the pharmaceutical industry and hence, the cure of disease. The food and cosmetics industries, on the other hand, have both considered their customer base to be healthy individuals. However, in recent years there has been a shift in consumer interest to prevention rather than cure of disease and this has lead to the subsequent development of numerous products aimed at individuals who do not have health problems severe enough to require medical intervention, but nevertheless whose health could be improved by dietary and lifestyle alterations. Such products include cosmaceuticals (cosmetics with active ingredients), nutriceuticals and functional foods. However, the development of any product which influences the health status of individuals requires rapid, advanced analytical tools in order to establish efficacy of the products by comprehensive analysis of measurable parameters within consumers, such as biofluid metabolites.