Potential of Functional Factors in Foods for 3D Printing to Manage Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

Dietary therapy has emerged as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy for the management of metabolic syndrome. However, traditional means of food processing are not able to meet the specific taste, nutritional, and emotional value needs of people with metabolic syndrome. The emergence of 3D food printing technology has led to breakthroughs in the creation of customized and personalized food products. This paper provides a systematic review of functional ingredients in foods suitable for controlling metabolic syndrome and their potential applications in 3D printing. In addition, it evaluates the impact of pretreatment and post-treatment technologies on the printability of these functional materials as well as the quality of printed products. Finally, the potential application of artificial intelligence and big data in helping to manage metabolic syndrome is explored, as well as its role in guiding and supporting 3D food printing. This review aims to provide theoretical support for future research on functional foods.