Biologically active food additives (BAS). Pharmacological group - Biologically active food additives (dietary supplements) What you should pay attention to when choosing a dietary supplement

Biologically active food additives (BAA) - what are they? How are they different from medications? What is their role in the treatment and prevention of various human diseases? Over the last 10-15 years, these questions have interested many people, including doctors, who are trying to understand the huge number of new products that have appeared on the market.

or “Foodsupplements” are terms that have entered modern medicine relatively recently. In Russia, dietary supplements have been sold since 1985, and their range is constantly increasing. Since 1997

The State Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision registers dietary supplements, and in 1999 more than 1000 dietary supplements were registered in the “Register of Biologically Active Food Additives.” Currently, according to the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, the total range of dietary supplements registered in Russia is at least 4,000 items.

What is the history of the creation of dietary supplements? An important factor for the creation of dietary supplements and the development of the ideology of their clinical use was the fact that in recent years a new, borderline field of knowledge has been rapidly developing all over the world, connecting the science of nutrition (nutrition) with pharmacology. A science has emerged that can be called pharmaconutrition.

Nutrition is one of the main factors determining the normal growth and development of the body, homeostasis, performance and human health.

It has now been proven that food is a much more capacious definition than was previously believed. Food is a complex of millions of substances, each of which has a certain measure of biological activity. Many of the biologically active substances are found in foods in higher doses than they are used in the pharmacopoeia. Currently, food should be considered not only as a source of energy and plastic (building) substances, but also as a very complex pharmacological complex.

Negative trends in changing nutritional patterns

All over the world there are negative changes in the nutritional structure of people. These unfavorable changes are becoming more and more apparent against the backdrop of an unfavorable environmental situation. Global pollution of our planet (surface waters, atmosphere and land), local radioactive pollution, formation of toxic substances - all these factors have led to a decrease in the biopotential and gene pool of ecosystems.

Systematic epidemiological studies conducted by the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in various regions of Russia over the past few years have revealed significant deficiencies in the nutrition of Russians. Significant deviations of the diet from the balanced nutrition formula were noted.

First of all, the level of consumption of nutrients is insufficient - vitamins, microelements, unsaturated fatty acids, and many other organic compounds of plant and animal origin, which are important in regulating metabolic processes and the functions of individual organs and systems.

In general, the main nutritional disorders are characterized by:

1. 1. Insufficient protein intake.

2. 2. Excessive consumption of fats (especially animal origin) and cholesterol.

3. 3. Increased consumption of sugar and salt.

4. 4. Deficiency of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

5. 5. Vitamin deficiency, and the deficiency of some vitamins is not seasonal, but year-round.

6. 6. Deficiency of microelements in the diets of both adults and children.

7. 7. Deficiency of various macronutrients in certain regions.

8. 8. Dietary fiber deficiency. A significant decrease in dietary fiber (fiber) consumption was noted.

9. 9. Significant reduction in the consumption of biological active substances of various natures, including the so-called “minor” food components.

10. 10. An important negative role is also played by the relatively large consumption of refined food products by the population, especially urban ones.

Currently, many of these unfavorable trends are common to civilized humanity and do not always depend on the level of people's well-being.

How should we eat

To provide the human body with all the necessary nutrients (and there are more than 600 of them!), his diet must contain approximately 32 different foods: bread, meat, fish, milk, vegetables, fruits, herbs, cereals, vegetable oils and much more. Being the only source of substances from which the cells of the human body are built, food largely determines the state of his health and life expectancy.

Human health is largely determined by the degree to which the body is supplied with energy and a number of essential or irreplaceable (that is, not synthesized in the human body) nutrients. Health can be achieved and maintained only if a person’s physiological needs for these substances are fully satisfied. Any deviation from the balanced nutrition formula leads to disruption of certain body functions, especially if these deviations are quite pronounced and long-lasting.

In the twentieth century, fundamental changes took place both in the lifestyle and in the nutritional structure of modern man. Human physiology could not have changed significantly in such a relatively short period of time.

The energy expenditure of ancient people (1 million years ago) was approximately 5-6 thousand kcal. And the nutrition of ancient people corresponded to these energy expenditures. Sedentary tribes 10,000 years ago spent and, accordingly, consumed about 4.5-5 thousand kcal per day. By the 70-80s of the twentieth century, in the economically developed countries of the world the energy expenditure of the majority of the population decreased sharply (almost 2 times) - they reached 2500-2700 kcal. Currently, the average energy expenditure for civilized countries has reached a critical level of 2200-2400 kcal per day for women and 2600 kcal/day for men.

Naturally, to provide the body with such an amount of energy, a smaller volume of food than previously required is sufficient. At the same time, the nutritional density of food, that is, the content of proteins, vitamins, minerals and biologically active components in products, has remained virtually unchanged. Thus, a person in a modern urbanized society with a traditional diet is essentially doomed to certain types of nutritional deficiency. Further, immune deficiencies and violations of adaptation mechanisms develop, functional disorders of human systems and organs increase, and the risk of developing many diseases increases.

It is not possible to solve the problem of improving the structure and quality of nutrition in the traditional way (development of agriculture, increasing the volume of food consumed, etc.), since it provokes the development of the so-called diseases of civilization - obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, functional constipation and many others.

The composition of modern food products forces doctors to solve a dilemma: reduce the consumption of food containing excess saturated fats, monosaccharides and salt, in order to prevent atherosclerosis, obesity and hypertension, thereby exacerbating the deficiency of essential micronutrients, or increase the amount of food eaten, eliminating micronutrient deficiency, but sharply increasing the risk of the above-mentioned “diseases of civilization.”

In a modern urbanized society, there is a dissonance between energy consumption and energy expenditure, which forces us to look for alternative ways to solve the problem of rational nutrition of the population.

Taking into account all the above circumstances, the world scientific medical community considers the creation and widespread use of biologically active food additives in everyday practice to be the fastest and most economically feasible way to improve the nutritional status of humanity.

Bad - food or medicine

Biologically active food additives are not medicines, they are natural or natural-identical biologically active substances obtained from plant, animal or mineral raw materials, and also (much less often) by chemical or microbiological synthesis.

In Russia, in accordance with Article 1 of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation of 2000 “On the quality and safety of food products,” dietary supplements are food products. According to Order No. 117 of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated April 15, 1997 “On the procedure for examination and hygienic certification of biologically active food additives,” the official definition of dietary supplements is as follows: “biologically active food additives are concentrates of natural or natural-identical biologically active substances intended for direct intake or introduction into food products in order to enrich the human diet with individual bioactive substances and their complexes.

Dietary supplements are obtained from plant, animal and mineral raw materials, as well as by chemical or biotechnological methods. These also include enzyme and bacterial preparations (eubiotics), which have a regulating effect on the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary supplements are produced in the form of extracts, infusions, balms, isolates, powders, dry and liquid concentrates, syrups, tablets, capsules and other forms. It should be noted that dietary supplements are used specifically to enrich the diet, and not to replace it. They are considered as micronutrients (minor components of food products) and are included in food products or drinks, enriching them with substances essential for the body and regulators of the physiological functions of organs and systems of the body. Dietary supplements cannot completely replace food and are not intended to treat diseases.

Dietary supplements can be included in food products or drinks, enriching them with essential nutrients (amino acids, vitamins, minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, etc.) and some regulators of the physiological functions of individual organs and systems of the human body, or used independently in various forms (extracts, balms, infusions, isolates, concentrates, etc.)

Currently, a huge number of dietary supplements have been created and registered all over the world, comparable to, and possibly even greater than, the number of drugs.

§ Criteria for distinguishing dietary supplements from food and medicines

§ The need to use dietary supplements to achieve an optimal physiological diet.

§ Dietary supplements are sold separately from food products in appropriate dosages.

§ The dietary supplement has no pharmacological effect.

§ The dietary supplement does not have any significant side effects.

§ Dietary supplements are designed for use to support the functional activity of human organs and systems within the framework of physiological fluctuations.

Attitudes towards dietary supplements in different countries

In Japan, dietary supplements have been used for more than 50 years, in the USA - 20 years. Dietary supplements are widely used in many countries: in France and Germany, about 60% of the population takes dietary supplements daily, in the USA - 80%, in Japan - 90%, in Russia - only 3%.

In Austria, for example, dietary supplements are considered a separate category of products, considered as a cross between food products and medicines. In Belgium, the Netherlands and Greece, dietary supplements mean only vitamins and minerals and are classified as food products that are subject to strict control in terms of single and daily doses.

Classification of dietary supplements

With a certain degree of convention, all dietary supplements are proposed to be divided into nutraceuticals and parapharmaceuticals. This classification is very conditional, since most dietary supplements are multifunctional, that is, they have a diverse positive effect on human health, having a complex effect on many organs and organ systems of the body.

The division of dietary supplements into parapharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals is artificial, because Parapharmaceuticals often contain food components, due to which they can be classified as nutraceuticals, and any nutraceuticals have a multifunctional effect on the body, just like parapharmaceuticals. Both groups of dietary supplements help maintain the functional activity of organs and systems within physiological limits and are used to optimize the chemical composition of food, so the division into groups is conditional. All nutritional components have pharmacological activity to a greater or lesser extent, and they provide the body with biologically active substances responsible for the normal functioning of the body.

Nutraceuticals are biologically active food additives used to correct the chemical composition of human food, the purpose of which is to bring the content of natural essential macro- and micronutrients to the level of their content in the daily diet that corresponds to the physiological need of a healthy person for them. Nutraceuticals can be classified as food for all reasons.

Nutraceuticals are essential nutrients or their close precursors: vitamins and provitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, macroelements, microelements, individual amino acids or peptide complexes, some mono- and disaccharides, phospholipids, dietary fiber, etc.

The components of nutraceuticals are in most cases well studied, and their daily requirements for various age and gender groups of the population are known. In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, nutraceuticals include those groups of products whose content of active principles (mineral salts) does not exceed six times their daily physiological need. For sources of vitamins (all except C and E), dietary supplements should not exceed three times the physiological need for the vitamin in a healthy person. For vitamins C and E, their content in dietary supplements is allowed up to ten times the physiological need of a healthy person.

The functional role of nutraceuticals is aimed at optimizing the nutrition of a specific healthy person depending on gender, age, with individual genetically programmed characteristics, biorhythms, and environmental conditions.

Nutraceuticals replenish the deficiency of essential nutrients, increase the body’s nonspecific resistance to the effects of unfavorable environmental factors, and purposefully change the metabolism of substances in the human body.

In addition, nutraceuticals have an immunomodulatory effect, bind and remove xenobiotics from the body.

A number of nutraceuticals are used in clinical nutrition as daily diet modifiers.

§ Requirements for nutraceuticals

§ The vitamin content should not exceed the daily requirement by more than three times for vitamins A, D, B 1, B 2, B 6, B 12, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin and no more than 10 times for vitamins C and E.

§ The nutritional supplement label for food is marked only with those quantities whose values ​​exceed 5% (vitamins and macro- and microelements) or 2% (other nutrients and energy).

Classification of nutraceuticals

§ Daily diet modifiers.

§ Sources of minerals.

§ Macroelements.

§ Microelements.

§ Combined.

§ Sources of vitamins.

§ Monovitamin preparations.

§ Multivitamin preparations.

§ Sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).

§ Sources of dietary fiber.

§ Dietary supplement for food to maintain the normal composition and regulation of colon microflora.

§ Replenish the deficiency of essential (irreplaceable) nutrients.

§ Goals of clinical use of nutraceuticals

§ Individualize the nutrition of a specific healthy person, taking into account his work, genetic factors, environmental conditions of the habitat, etc.

§ To satisfy as much as possible the altered physiological needs for nutrients of a sick person.

§ Increase the body’s nonspecific resistance to adverse environmental influences.

§ Strengthen and accelerate the binding and removal of foreign and toxic substances (xenobiotics) from the human body.

§ Directly change the metabolism of individual substances in the body of a sick person.

§ The use of nutraceuticals is an effective form of prevention, as well as complex, auxiliary treatment of patients with a number of widespread diseases: obesity, atherosclerosis, colon dysbiosis, cancer, immunodeficiency states.

Parapharmaceuticals are biologically active substances that regulate vital processes and are used for prevention, auxiliary therapy and support within the physiological boundaries of the functional activity of organs and systems in quantities not exceeding the daily therapeutic dose.

, which contain bioflavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, organic acids, essential oils, polysaccharides, biogenic amines and other biologically active substances. Parapharmaceuticals are closer to drugs than nutraceuticals, but they are not drugs and cannot replace them.

Parapharmaceuticals include plant extracts with a high concentration of physiologically active substances (ginseng, eleutherococcus, golden root - radiola, lemongrass, various seaweed), mineral and organic substrates (mumiyo), waste products of animals and bees (antlers, animal and plant poisons, bile, honey, propolis), various herbal teas and herbal preparations.

The action of parapharmaceuticals is aimed at activating and stimulating the function of individual organs and systems. However, it should be remembered that the physiological level of the majority of biologically active substances of many parapharmaceuticals in the cells and tissues of the body is unknown. The physiological need for them in an adult healthy person is also unknown, which greatly complicates the scientific study of the effectiveness of these substances.

§ In most cases, parapharmaceuticals are sources of natural food components.

§ The amount of the active principle in a daily dose of a parapharmaceutical should not exceed a single therapeutic dose of this substance if it is used in a chemically pure form as a medicine.

§ If it is impossible to isolate the active principle from a medicinal plant or their complex in a specific form of dietary supplement, the daily dose in the dietary supplement should not exceed the amount of the medicinal plant that is used for medicinal purposes as a single dose in traditional medicine, provided that the dietary supplement is taken at least twice a day day.

§ Parapharmaceuticals are used exclusively internally and are currently classified as food products.

§ Sold without a prescription.

§ When used as an auxiliary treatment, consultation with a specialist doctor is necessary.

§ The effect of parapharmaceuticals, manifested in changes in the parameters of the functions of organs and systems, lies within the limits of their physiological norm. The effect of parapharmaceuticals is realized through the initiation of universal mechanisms of adaptive reactions of the body.

§ When using parapharmaceuticals, there is a significantly lower likelihood of toxic and side effects than when using drugs. However, the phenomenon of individual intolerance cannot be excluded, which is also typical for some food products.

§ There is a wider range of doses used than drugs, at which parapharmaceuticals exert their normalizing effect on the functions of individual organs.

Classification of parapharmaceuticals

§ Regulators of hunger.

§ Containing natural enzymes.

§ Adaptogens.

§ Toners.

§ Immunomodulators.

§ Hypolipidemics.

§ Regulators of body functions and systems.

Composition of dietary supplements

In accordance with Order No. 89 of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated March 26, 2001, biologically active food additives, depending on their basis, are divided into 13 groups, which are presented in the “Register of biologically active food additives.” The Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules and Standards “Hygienic Requirements for the Safety and Nutritional Value of Food Products” dated 2001 list the following groups of dietary supplements and their main composition.

The composition of dietary supplements includes biologically active substances, food components and products that are their source and do not have a harmful effect on human health when used in the process of manufacturing dietary supplements.

1. 1. Nutrients.

1. 1. Proteins, protein derivatives (animal, plant and other origin): protein isolates, protein concentrates, protein hydrolysates, amino acids and their derivatives.

2. 2. Fats, fat-like substances and their derivatives.

1. 1. Vegetable oils are sources of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, phospholipids, fat-soluble vitamins.

2. 2. Fats of fish and marine animals are sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, phospholipids, and fat-soluble vitamins.

3. 3. Individual polyunsaturated fatty acids isolated from food sources: linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, etc.

4. 4. Sterols isolated from food raw materials.

5. 5. Medium chain triglycerides.

6. 6. Phospholipids and their precursors, including lecithin, cephalin, choline, ethanolamine.

3. 3. Carbohydrates and products of their processing.

1. 1. Dietary fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, gums, etc.).

2. 2. Polyglucosamines (chitosan, chondroitin sulfate, glycosaminoglycans, glucosamine).

3. 3. Starch and its hydrolysis products.

4. 4. Inulin and other polyfructosans.

5. 5. Glucose, fructose, lactose, lactulose, ribose, xylose, arabinose.

4. 4. and coenzymes: vitamins C (ascorbic acid, its salts and esters), B 1 (thiamine), B 2 (riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide), B 6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine and their phosphates), PP (nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and its salts), folic acid, vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin), pantothenic acid and its salts, biotin, vitamin A (retinol and its esters), carotenoids (β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, etc.), vitamin E (tocopherols, tocotrienols and their esters), vitamin D and its active forms, vitamin K, para-aminobenzoic acid, lipoic acid, orotic acid, inositol, methylmethionine sulfonium, carnitine, pangamic acid.

5. 5. Minerals (macro- and microelements): calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, iodine, zinc, boron, chromium, copper, sulfur, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, silicon, vanadium, fluorine, germanium , cobalt.

2. 2. Minor food components.

1. 1. Enzymes of plant origin or obtained by biotechnological methods based on microbial synthesis.

2. 2. Polyphenolic compounds, including bioflavonoids, anthocyanidins, and catechins with a pronounced antioxidant effect.

3. 3. Natural metabolites: succinic acid, α-keto acids, ubiquinone, citric acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, ornistine, citruline, creatine, betaine, glutathione, taurine, malic acid, indoles, isothiocyanates, octacosanol, chlorophyll, terpenoids, iridoids, resveratrol, steviosides.

3. 3. Probiotics (in monocultures and in association) and prebiotics.

1. 1. Bifidobacteria, including infantis, bifidum, longum, breve species; Lactobacillus, including species acidophilus, fermentii, casei, plantarum, bulgaricus, etc.; Lactococcus; Streptococcus thermophilus; Propionibacterium.

2. 2. Oligo- and polysaccharides of various classes (fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides of natural origin, microbial synthesis and others).

3. 3. Biologically active substances - immune proteins and enzymes, glycopesides, lysozyme, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, bacteriocins of lactic acid microorganisms, with the exception of preparations from human tissues and fluids.

4. 4. , reptiles, arthropods, mineral-organic or mineral natural substances (in dry, powdery, tablet, encapsulated form, in the form of aqueous, alcoholic, fatty dry and liquid extracts, infusions, syrups, concentrates, balms): mumiyo, spirulina, chlorella, inactivated yeast and their hydrolysates, zeolites.

5. 5. Bee products: royal jelly, propolis, wax, pollen, bee bread.

Principles of using dietary supplements

Biologically active food additives are used in medicine for the following purposes.

o Rationalization of nutrition. To quickly replenish the deficit of biologically active substances supplied with food, the consumption of which has been reduced, as well as to select the most optimal ratio of nutrients and energy substances for each individual person.

o Reducing the calorie content of the daily diet, regulating body weight. The use of dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals can reduce the calorie content of the traditional diet. Some dietary supplements prepared on the basis of medicinal plants have an anorexigenic effect or a mild laxative and diuretic effect.

o Satisfying the physiological needs of a sick person for various nutrients, while reducing the load on the metabolic links affected by the pathological process.

o Increased nonspecific resistance of the body to the effects of adverse environmental factors. For these purposes, substances of plant origin are widely used.

o Prevention of metabolic disorders and the occurrence of associated chronic diseases. Dietary supplements containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber have a hypolipidemic effect and thus influence the central link in the pathogenesis of widespread chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and others.

o Directed change in metabolism in the human body, binding and accelerated removal from the body of toxic and foreign substances (xenobiotics), which occurs when using adsorbents, as well as plant components that have a diuretic, laxative and choleretic effect.

o Restoring the body’s weakened immune system. A number of dietary supplements containing vitamins, minerals, extracts of biologically active substances from plants, adaptogens, thymus extracts, etc. have an immunomodulatory effect.

o Normalization of the composition and functioning of saprophytic intestinal microflora. For this purpose, dietary supplements are used, created on the basis of natural microorganisms of the human intestine, as well as fructo-oligosaccharides, which create conditions for the reproduction and vital activity of saprophytic bacteria.

o Implementation of the regulation of body functions within physiological boundaries.

o. By limiting lipid peroxidation in pathological processes, dietary supplements, thereby ensuring the normal functioning of various organs and systems.

The ultimate goal of using nutraceuticals is to improve a person's nutritional status, promote health, and prevent a number of diseases; parapharmaceuticals - prevention and auxiliary therapy of various pathological conditions and regulation of the body’s activity within the boundaries of functional activity.

The use of dietary supplements is possible during 4 periods of a person’s life cycle.

11. 1. The state of normal human health (this period accounts for about 20% of an individual’s life).

12. 2. Maladaptation - insufficient protective function of the human body, reduced immunity (about 40% of life).

13. 3. Pre-disease - there is no need to prescribe medications yet, but the state of the body cannot be called healthy (about 20% of life).

14. 4. Illness - during this period of a person’s life, drug therapy and other treatment methods are prescribed (about 20% of life).

General principles of using dietary supplements in food

§ The principle of consistency and functionality. All regulatory and therapeutic effects must be complex, since in the whole organism there is a relationship between the nutritional state and the regulation of tissue catabolism and the work of regulatory systems, and first of all, the central nervous system.

§ The principle of phasing. The use of this principle allows us to clearly determine the capabilities and significance of dietary supplements at different stages of the development of the disease. In the early stages of the disease, the combined use of nutrition and dietary supplements becomes leading in the ability to eliminate further development of the disease or reduce its manifestations. At other stages of the disease, biologically active supplements are used as additional means to reduce toxicity and enhance the effectiveness of basic therapy, correct impaired body functions and symptomatic treatment.

§ The principle of adequacy. It is necessary to select dietary supplements for food taking into account the nature of the disease, the characteristics of its course, take into account the presence of complications, and clearly understand the spectrum of therapeutic action of each component of the dietary supplement.

§ Syndromic principle.

§ The principle of optimal doses.

§ The principle of combination. At the initial signs of the disease, the dietary supplement is combined with food, and as it progresses, it is combined with specific drugs and treatment methods. o Continuity of treatment.

o Temporal principle of treatment (taking into account the chronobiology of chronomedicine).

o Principle of application: From simple to complex.

Analyzing the indications for the use of dietary supplements and comparing them with drugs, we can note the following main focus of the use of dietary supplements - drugs are used mainly for the treatment of various diseases, for their prevention in a state of pre-illness and very rarely in healthy people (for example, contraceptives, adaptogens) ; Dietary supplements for food are mainly used in healthy people for the indications listed above, less often in a state of pre-illness, and in a state of illness these substances can only be used as an addition to the main therapy, but in no case as a means of monotherapy.

It is very important to use dietary supplements correctly. General recommendations for the use of dietary supplements in food have been developed.

o You should start taking dietary supplements with small doses in order to check the body’s reaction to this product. Then the dose is gradually increased over 2-3 days to the one recommended on the package or prescribed by the doctor.

o Food supplements in most cases (unless otherwise stated) should be taken with food for optimal absorption by the body.

o Dietary supplements containing calcium should be taken between meals (30-40 minutes before meals or 30-40 minutes after meals) so as not to reduce the level of acidity in the stomach and not worsen digestive processes.

o Dietary supplements with a tonic and adaptogenic effect are recommended to be taken in the first half of the day so that the patient’s increased activity does not interfere with night’s sleep.

o Dietary supplements containing live microorganisms should also be taken between meals (1 hour before meals or 1 hour after meals). They need to be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of +3+5 degrees C.

o It should be remembered that increasing the dose indicated on the label can only be done on the recommendation of a doctor.

o You should not take several types of dietary supplements at the same time without consulting a specialist doctor or nutritionist.

o Food supplements should be stored in a dark, dry place, protected from direct sunlight. Do not store in the refrigerator unless this storage condition is specifically stated, as is the case with bacterial complexes.

o Do not store or consume dietary supplements for longer than indicated on the package.

The role of dietary supplements in clinical practice

Analysis of numerous literary data in recent years allows us to conclude that the use of dietary supplements is a serious tool for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, damage to the gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal system, endocrine system and many other diseases.

The Sanitary Rules and Norms of the Russian Federation, published in recent years, establish that dietary supplements should be used to prevent and support the physiological boundaries of the functional activity of human organs and systems.

Improving health using any possible methods is becoming increasingly popular. One of the actively developing trends is the use of dietary supplements.

Some bright minds in medicine believe that it is a panacea; reviews from a number of doctors are inclined to believe that it is a useless dummy. What does dietary supplement mean: benefit or harm to humans?

What are dietary supplements

A composition of active substances, selected taking into account recommendations for use, which is a mixture of natural, identical to natural components.

Non-medicinal products are designed to be taken directly with food. The principle of operation is the enrichment of food products with the necessary beneficial macro- and microelements.

Basically, dietary supplements are a non-alcoholic mixture of extracts of plant and mineral fauna, enzymes, synthetic similarities to natural substances, and organic complexes. To enhance the effect, animal extracts may be included. Moreover, the components used in the preparations are low toxic and well tolerated by the body. In rare cases, complications or side effects may occur with long-term use.

Application improves adaptation capabilities with:

• Ecological deterioration;
• Change of climate zone;
• Drawing up a therapeutic diet;
• Increased physical or mental stress;
• Restoring the body after surgery or a long illness.

Classification of dietary supplements

Biological additives have a number of group divisions depending on the development of the pharmaceutical industry.

According to the first systematization, drugs are divided according to modification technology:

• Concentrates of useful substances of natural origin: mineral water, sea salt, honey, seaweed;
• Food additives in the form of seasonings, dried fruits, fermented milk products, wine, yeast fermentation, tea;
• Medicinal extracts;
• Artificially developed complexes;
• Enriched food supplement modified with active beneficial elements.

The second grouping represents the source of the funds.

The main classification occurs by type:

• Nutraceutical - is an additional source of protein, fat, carbohydrate components, amines, and microelements. Designed to enrich poor food and correct malnutrition. Prevents the occurrence of vitamin deficiency. Improves metabolism. Strengthens the immune system. Included in the therapeutic diet;
• Parapharmaceutical is an additive related to bioregulators, used for complex therapy, normalization of the functioning of internal organs and systems. The impact occurs purposefully on the source of the problem or protection from the influence of external adverse factors;
• Eubiotic is a product based on microorganisms, metabolites, substrate that normalize the state of the gastrointestinal microflora. Supports local immunity.

Composition of dietary supplements

It is useful to note that the composition of active substances directly depends on the type of drug and the purpose of its use.

The main components of the products are polysaccharides - they have targeted properties: absorption of toxins, immunomodulation, laxative. Supports mucus removal and metabolic processes. Enrich the body with vitamins and microelements. Applicable:

• Gum - in addition to its beneficial effects, it is addictive;

• Plant fibers - cellulose, lignin from bran, cereal germ, alfalfa. In addition to the expected cleansing, it provokes the adsorption of vitamins and mineral salts. May impair metabolism;
• Lipids - higher fatty acids of lecithin help improve the regulation of blood pressure and cholesterol. Used for the prevention of cardiovascular pathologies;
• Oils of walnuts, wheat, pumpkin and others - used as dietary supplements for diabetes, high cholesterol, menstruation disorders, dermatological problems, heart disease, thyroid disease, gastrointestinal tract;
• Irioids - tone the body at the cellular level;
• Sesquiterpenes - stimulate internal processes;
• Esters - enhances functions;
• Phenolic compounds, flavones - support immunity, adaptive capabilities;
• Saponins - have sedative and anti-inflammatory properties;
• Alkoloids - hemostatic, normalizes tone, anesthetizes;
• Vitamins, mineral salts - can contain the entire spectrum of necessary microelements or are enriched with several types to enhance the effect;
• Proteins, fats, carbohydrates - necessary for the full functioning of the body;
• Probiotics, prebiotics, enzyme units - aimed at improving the condition of the gastrointestinal microflora;
• Extracts of beekeeping products - improvement of internal systems;
• Other components selected depending on the therapeutic effect of the drug.

Differences between dietary supplements and medications

Biological supplements are not medicines and can be used by completely healthy people. The direction of influence is the enrichment of food with nutritional value in dosages not exceeding daily requirements. That is, they are an additional source of necessary useful elements. Safety of use and absence of complications.

Purpose: support, correction of body activity. Increases the activity of adaptive physiological reactions, immune mechanisms, and energy resources.

It has no name in Latin and no stable chemical formula. The effect occurs after a long course of use.

Use of dietary supplements

Dietary supplements are prescribed for:

• Severe deficiency of nutrients;
• Losing weight, strict diet, fasting;
• Lack of certain microelements;
• Strengthening and restoring immune forces;
• Metabolic disorders;
• Cleansing the body of waste and toxins;
• Improving the microflora of mucous membranes and local resistance;
• Correction of failures in the functioning of internal systems;
• Antioxidant therapy.

Bad title	bad composition	application
Viruxin	Tannin. Sea buckthorn extract, cocoa, calcium, birch bark	Lozenges. As a source of tannins.
	Wormwood, cloves, calamus, fennel, ginger root
	A wide range of products to solve various health problems	Prevention of ENT, cardiological, ophthalmological diseases. For neuroses. For potency, for prostatitis.
	Powder, gel	For hematomas, bruises, acne - relieves pain, relieves inflammation on the skin.
	Milk thistle meal	For weight loss with a genetic predisposition.
	Linseed oil	Improving the condition of the dermis and hair.
	Eleutherococcus	Strengthening resistance.
	different	A number of drugs actively have a healing effect on internal systems.
	Organic acids, radiola rosea, geranium, plantain, burdock	Antitumor properties, strengthening defenses during chemotherapy.
Magnetic	Vitamins and minerals	Restoring the beauty of hair, nails, skin.
	Fish oil	Has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and the heart, eliminates stress.
	Ascorbic acid, tocopherol, retinol	Source of vitamins and antioxidants.
Fitoform	Kelp, horcinia, corn silk	Improving metabolism, reducing body weight.
	Cloves, black pepper, tansy, garlic, grapefruit, saussurea
	Microelements C, d3, B 1,2,6,9,12, arbutin	Relieving inflammation of the urine excretory system.
Composition	Zinc, silicon, manganese, boron. Glucosamine, quercetin, proanthocyanide	Pain relief, relief of symptoms of arthritis, arthrosis.
Beer yeast	B vitamins	Improves metabolism, normalizes the gastrointestinal tract, normalizes cholesterol.
	Amino acid	Increases the activity of metabolic processes. Strengthens the functions of the central nervous system and digestive system. Reduces weight and symptoms of diabetes.
Licorice candies	Licorice root	Relieves inflammation in the throat and mouth, eliminates heartburn and allergies. Antispasmodic.
Leptoproject		Chronotherapy, anti-cold action.
Hair expert	Beer yeast, horsetail, cystine, zinc	Reduces hair loss, increases volume, improves growth.
Evening	Dragee from valerian, hops, mint	To normalize sleep

Sale of dietary supplements

You can buy biologically active dietary supplements in pharmacies, online portals, and specialized stores.

Cost of dietary supplements

Since the production of dietary supplements is a complex process that requires quality control and adherence to dosage standards according to Sanpin, the price of the drugs cannot be too low. The cost includes: amount of active substance, brand, country of production. Domestic products will be cheaper than imported ones.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a dietary supplement?

There are many fakes on the Russian market. Without a clear state standard, the manufacturer is given the opportunity to produce drugs without meeting all the requirements, as well as use low-quality components or replace them with cheaper analogues.

Before purchasing dietary supplements:

• Read reviews;
• Learn about the brand;
• Read the label, annotation, instructions;
• The price cannot be very low or high;
• The manufacturer must indicate that the dietary supplement is not a medicine;
• Registration number in the Rospotrebnadzor register;
• Purchase on official websites or in pharmacies.

Currently, consumers do not experience a shortage of products on store shelves. On the one hand, this is good, but less and less balanced in composition can be found. Due to the use of food additives, our diet has been enriched with various taste sensations, but the content of vitamins, minerals and essential trace elements has sharply decreased.

Now in pharmacy chains you can find a huge number of dietary supplements that are recognized as solving the problem. In this article we will try to figure out what dietary supplements it is.

What are dietary supplements

If you look at it from a medical point of view, they are not mandatory components of nutrition. They are not needed for full life. If a person’s diet is balanced, then he gets everything he needs from the foods he eats.

If there is a deficiency, it is quite possible to change the situation for the better by taking multivitamins, since there are a huge number of them in pharmacies. Then the question arises: dietary supplement - what is it?

Such additives are obtained by extracting from various organic and inorganic complexes. This process is quite lengthy and complex, which requires manufacturers to comply with all production technologies. Since private companies are more often involved in this, it is sometimes not at all profitable for them to comply with all the rules.

Because of this, situations occur when poorly purified substances get into the tablet or they are not there at all. For complete assimilation, it is necessary to observe a combination of components with each other, and this is often not done. As a result, most doctors confidently claim that dietary supplements are practically useless for the body; it is quite possible to live without them.

It’s good if, instead of a useful tablet, the package contains ordinary chalk or a neutral substance, but there are cases when you even come across combinations that are dangerous to health. So think about it after this, BAD - what is it, benefit or harm to the body.

Composition of dietary supplements

All supplements contain various food components and biologically active substances. Among them are the following:

• Squirrels.
• Fats and fat-like substances.
• Vegetable oils.
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Triglycerides.
• Carbohydrates.
• Vitamins and microelements.
• Enzymes of plant origin.
• Probiotics.
• Bee products and many others.

Despite the fact that dietary supplements can be purchased at any pharmacy completely freely, without a doctor’s prescription, you should think twice before using them. It is better to consult a doctor to weigh the pros and cons, calculate the dosage and need for use.

Classification of dietary supplements

Since they are most often prescribed for medicinal purposes, their classification is based on this use. There are two classes of dietary supplements:

1. Nutraceuticals.
2. Parapharmaceuticals.

The first group of drugs is intended to eliminate nutritional deficiencies. This includes all synthetic vitamin preparations, amino acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. By taking them, you can normalize the diet of both adults and children.

Parapharmaceuticals, or they are also called bioregulators, affect the body differently. They affect the functioning of organs, increase the body’s resistance to various unfavorable factors of the external and internal environment.

Bioregulators have a more powerful and targeted effect. They are usually prescribed for the prevention of various diseases. But very often it is quite difficult to separate these two classes from each other, since the same drugs can belong to two groups at once.

Historical background

Traditional medicine has always played a major role in the search for remedies and methods of treating various diseases. At the dawn of human existence, this was a common need, since official medicine did not have such development.

Almost until the mid-19th century, medicine relied on the experience and knowledge of folk recipes that had accumulated over centuries. Information was collected and recorded by famous scientists of antiquity, for example, Hippocrates, Avicenna, Galen and many others.

Despite the widespread use of plant objects for treatment, with the development of the chemical industry, they learned to isolate active substances and produce medicines based on them. Gradually they began to displace folk recipes. Currently, we continue to observe this process, with a huge number of new drugs being synthesized every year.

It was assumed that it would gradually cease to be used, but the opposite is true. Modern synthetic drugs result in a large number of side effects.

Again, more and more often, we are trying to get rid of our ailments using folk remedies in order to do less harm to our body. Medicine did not wait long and decided to use it. This is how a new generation medicine appeared - dietary supplements. What is it, briefly, it is the official successor of traditional medicine, only in a slightly different guise.

There are many supporters of the idea that it is dietary supplements that can finally cure a person, and not traditional medicine.

Despite the fact that we have not yet fully figured out whether dietary supplements are good or bad, in medicine they are usually recommended to be used in the following cases:

1. To quickly fill the deficit of missing substances, for example, vitamins, microelements.
2. To reduce caloric intake in order to reduce body weight.
3. To satisfy the needs of a sick body for certain substances.
4. To increase resistance to adverse environmental factors.
5. For preventive purposes to prevent metabolic disorders.
6. In order to change metabolism, for example, to speed up the elimination of toxic substances.
7. To restore immunity.
8. To normalize intestinal microflora.
9. To regulate the functioning of the body.
10. Many dietary supplements are excellent antioxidants.

Based on this, we can conclude that biological supplements can be prescribed to almost every person; the reason and justification for taking them can always be found.

Principles of using dietary supplements

The use of additives is based on some principles:

• The principle of functionality and consistency. That is, the impact must be complex, since the functioning of organs in the body is directly related to nutrition.
• The principle of phasing. At different stages of the disease, it is advisable to select different supplements. For example, in the first stages it is necessary to urgently eliminate the symptoms of the disease, and at the end of treatment, eliminate the toxic effect of taking medications.
• The principle of adequacy. It is necessary to prescribe dietary supplements, taking into account the nature of the disease and the characteristics of its course.
• Syndromic principle. The prescription of biological additives should be made taking into account those symptoms that are pronounced.
• The principle of optimality. When treating or preventing diseases, the dosage must be selected individually.
• The principle of combination. Dietary supplements can be combined with food and other medications.

Analyzing all the principles, we can say about dietary supplements that this is a substance that must be used in combination with other therapy during illness. It is impossible to cure with supplements alone.

Even though supplements are not a drug, there are some rules for taking them.

1. You should start taking it with a small dosage to see how the body reacts, and then you can increase it to the one recommended by your doctor.
2. For more effective absorption, biological supplements are best taken with food.
3. If a dietary supplement contains calcium, it is better to consume it half an hour before or after meals, so as not to affect the acidity of gastric juice.
4. If a dietary supplement is prescribed, it is advisable to take it in the first half of the day so as not to disturb night sleep.
5. Dietary supplements containing live microorganisms must be stored in the refrigerator and used between meals.
6. Do not take more than the dose prescribed by the doctor or the one recommended on the package.
7. You cannot take several types of dietary supplements at the same time.
8. Biological additives are stored in a dark and dry place. Do not refrigerate unless otherwise specified in the storage instructions.

We considered the question: "Dietary supplement - what is it and how to use it?" Now it is necessary to study the pitfalls of taking such drugs.

Danger and harm of dietary supplements

It is already known that dietary supplements are obtained through a complex technological process; one tablet can contain a whole orange, but its cost will be several times more expensive than fresh fruit. Trying to help their body, some take supplements in large dosages, but all the excess is still excreted, which means our money goes down the toilet.

Here are just some of the dangers that lie in wait when using dietary supplements:

The benefits of dietary supplements

Dietary supplements cannot be taken as medicine; they are a common food additive. Although using it with natural ingredients that our body needs can be beneficial. Taking this into account, it can be noted that dietary supplements can prevent the development of many diseases or assist in their complex treatment.

• For the prevention of certain diseases.
• Replenish the level of vitamins and minerals.
• Strengthening the immune system.
• In the complex treatment of chronic diseases.

Differences between dietary supplements and medications

If you ask a pharmacist: “Dietary supplement, what does this mean?”, then most likely he will answer you that these are substances of plant and animal origin, that is, completely natural. There are some features of supplements that distinguish them from medications:

• The active substance is contained in small doses.
• Milder effect on the body.
• Non-toxic.
• The body tolerates them more easily.
• Very rarely cause complications or side effects.
• Can relieve the toxic effects of drugs.
• Do not accumulate in the body.

After studying this information, you already doubt that dietary supplements are harmful.

You shouldn’t believe everything that is shown and advertised on television, everyone’s body is different, and the reaction to taking dietary supplements can be unpredictable. Take care of your health, lead a healthy lifestyle, and then you definitely won’t need biological supplements.

Subgroup drugs excluded. Turn on

Description

Biologically active food additives (BAA) are substances of natural origin that normalize the balance of nutrients, help maintain health (prevent diseases) and accelerate the healing process. To a certain extent, the appearance of such additives was the result, on the one hand, of the evolution of society’s views on human health, and on the other hand, the accumulation of knowledge and technologies necessary for a deep, comprehensive study of all the possibilities of natural sources, the isolation and improvement of many products of natural origin.

Many dietary supplements contain adaptogenic and tonic substances that stimulate the body's defenses, increase overall stability and vitality, physical and mental performance, and reduce the negative impact of the environment and stress. Such properties are possessed by extracts from various plants (aralia, leuzea, lemongrass, Rhodiola rosea, zamanikha, Eleutherococcus, ginseng, etc.), animal organs (deer antlers, etc.), elixirs and balms from medicinal herbs, pollen, propolis (bee glue), royal jelly (a beekeeping product, also called royal jelly), mumiyo. In food supplements, the above components are usually contained in combination with vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber (fiber) and other substances. The composition and ratio of these components vary significantly depending on the purpose of application.

Seaweeds - spirulina, kelp, fucus, ascophyllum, chlorella - are widely used in many dietary supplements. These products serve as an excellent source of plant-based, easily digestible protein. In addition, they are rich in vitamins, amino acids, microelements, and unsaturated fatty acids. Algae accelerate the removal of radionuclides, heavy metal salts, and toxic substances from the body, cleansing it and delaying the aging process, and stimulate the immune system. They are also used for the prevention of cardiovascular and cancer diseases, asthma and allergic reactions, help normalize the function of the thyroid gland (because they are rich in iodine), and eliminate inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dietary fiber, which is part of plant foods, plays a major role in the positive effects of dietary supplements. The main types of dietary fiber are cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin. They are not absorbed by the body, but give a feeling of fullness, so they are often included in diets aimed at reducing body weight. A person’s diet should contain at least 30-50 g of dietary fiber per day. Modern technology for processing raw materials in the manufacture of many products leads to the destruction of dietary fiber, and not enough of it is supplied with food. And they are necessary not only to feel full. Dietary fiber helps lower cholesterol levels and stabilize blood glucose levels, normalize the gastrointestinal tract, and are an excellent sorbent for waste, heavy metal salts and other foreign substances. They are used to prevent colorectal cancer, diabetes, constipation, hemorrhoids, and obesity. The most important natural sources of dietary fiber are bran (wheat, rice, oatmeal), the upper part of the shell of vegetables and fruits. In dietary supplements, MCC is often used, obtained by carefully processing cotton cellulose. A number of dietary supplements contain MCC complexes with adaptogens or sources of vitamins (for example, rose hips). MCC is also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as a filler that does not have a therapeutic effect (inertness) for tablets.

The composition of dietary supplements used to cleanse the body of toxins and foreign substances, along with various types of dietary fiber, includes zeolites - minerals enriched with microelements. Zeolites are good sorbents and remove low molecular weight harmful compounds from the body in case of poisoning (methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, toxins, etc.), as well as excess metal ions. On the other hand, zeolites release microelements that the body lacks.

An effective dietary supplement is brewer's yeast, which contains a complex of vitamins (especially group B), microelements, low-molecular biologically active substances, incl. easily digestible proteins. They normalize digestion and metabolism, activate the immune system, help maintain high physical and mental performance, and remove heavy metals, radionuclides, and harmful chemical compounds from the body. They are also used for vitamin deficiency, protein starvation, reduced resistance to infections, anemia, after operations and diseases, for the prevention of tumors in environmentally unfavorable areas.

Brewer's yeast is a good source of lecithin, a building material for cell membranes, incl. all muscle and nerve cells. Sources of lecithin are also soybeans, egg yolks, grains, legumes, fish, and wheat germ.