Abstract: New dietary habits, current trends in production and consumption have significant health, environmental, and social implications. The European Union is addressing diseases typical of the modern era, including obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, allergies, and dental issues. Developed nations are also confronting challenges associated with aging populations, high-calorie foods, and unbalanced diets. This paper discusses the potential of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and food supplements in alleviating health issues, particularly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Specific members of gut microflora (e.g., probiotic/protective strains) contribute to the health of the host through their roles in nutritional, immunological, and physiological functions. The potential mechanisms by which nutraceuticals, functional foods, and food supplements may influence a host's health are also emphasized in this document. The development of innovative functional cell models of the GI tract and analytical tools that facilitate testing in controlled experiments are greatly needed for gut research.
Shimpi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.