Biologically active additives

In the second half of the 20th century, a new direction of medicine arose – pharmaconutriciology, and the first biologically active food supplements (BAA) appeared.

In our country, this direction is relatively new, and despite the fact that many congresses, conferences and symposiums dedicated to dietary supplements are held annually, they remain the subject of heated debate in medical circles.

Ordinary products in their biological, nutritional properties and chemical composition are complex natural mixtures. A separate group among them are products that are sources of biologically active components – vitamins and microelements. Biologically active substances also include essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, phosphanides and other fat-like substances.

Classification of dietary supplements

Biologically active additives к пище (БАД) – композиции натуральных или идентичных натуральным биологически активных веществ, предназначенных для непосредственного приёма с пищей или введения в состав пищевых продуктов с целью обогащения рациона отдельными пищевыми или биологически активными веществами и их комплексами.

Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements used to correct the chemical composition of human food (additional sources of nutrients: protein, amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber).

Parapharmaceuticals – dietary supplements used for prevention, adjuvant therapy and support within the physiological boundaries of the functional activity of organs and systems.

Eubiotics (or probiotics) are dietary supplements, which include living microorganisms and (or) their metabolites, which have a normalizing effect on the composition and biological activity of the microflora of the digestive tract.

According to the results of numerous studies, biologically active food supplements of plant and animal origin as regulators of energy metabolism can be considered from the following positions:

· Dietary supplements that create a feeling of satiety (sugar substitutes – fructose, dietary fiber, etc.);

Dietary supplements that reduce the feeling of appetite, affecting neurohumoral mechanisms, and thereby reducing individual food intake (a fairly wide group of chemical

agents allowed for use by the group FAO/WHO Experts – Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, eg certain peptides and synthetic substances with central action on satiety centers in humans);

– Dietary supplements that stimulate the mobilization of fat from adipose tissue (including those containing caffeine, theophylline and theobromine). So, caffeine at a dose of 70-100 mg (the equivalent of one cup of strong coffee) increases metabolism by 3-4% within 2-3 hours and promotes fat loss;

– Dietary supplements that stimulate the activity of the cycle az-th system of cells and, accordingly, the activation of systems for mobilizing energy depots of cells, in particular fat (stimulators of the synthesis of adrenaline, norepinephrine, thyroid-stimulating hormones, etc.), for example, plant methylxanthines;

– dietary supplements that enhance food thermogenesis (for example, gingerols, capsiacin, allylisothiocyanates and other components of aromatic plants and mustard);

– dietary supplements that cause or induce uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation with respiration, which leads to a more efficient use of carbohydrates and fatty acids for heat generation than ATP synthesis (some types of spices and spices);

– dietary supplements as sources of cofactors for energy metabolism enzymes that stimulate the oxidation of fatty acids and carbohydrates (group B vitamins, L-carnitine, microelements, etc.);

– dietary supplements that stimulate blood flow and, accordingly, local activation of metabolism due to local irritating action (pepper, etc.);

– dietary supplements that stimulate oxidation in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, in particular through a more intensive formation of succinic acid with a lower conjugation coefficient with oxidative phosphorylation and, accordingly, higher heat generation (succinic acid and other substrates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle);

– dietary supplements that bind lipids and carbohydrates of food in the gastrointestinal tract with the formation of complexes that are not available for attack by digestive enzymes – lipases (chitins, polymers with a high content of chelate compounds, etc.);

– dietary supplements that inhibit the absorption of fatty acids and sugars in the gastrointestinal tract (sodium antagonists and enterocyte receptor blockers that bind to adenylate cyclases of the apical membranes of enterocytes);

Dietary supplements that enhance the excretion of water from the body. This type of dietary supplement is a kind “false” type of body weight regulation (foods rich in potassium salts, etc.);

Dietary supplements that inhibit the synthesis of fatty acids from carbohydrates de novo (citrine or other analogs of precursors for the synthesis of fatty acids through malonyl-CoA);

· – Dietary supplements that dramatically accelerate the passage of food mass through the gastrointestinal tract and thereby limit the intake of nutrients in the body in full (dietary fibers, intestinal motility stimulants, etc.).

Types of dietary supplements used in sports nutrition

According to the “Catalogue of the most popular sports nutrition products”, dietary supplements are divided into the following types:

Amino acid complexes are complexes of amino acids balanced in composition, including their main types. These include both complexes of 22 amino acids, and complexes of 3 amino acids with branched side chains (BAC), as well as the most important amino acids consumed separately (glutamine, methionine, etc.). They can be in capsules, tablets, and also in liquid form.

Protein Powder and Muscle Builders are high-digestible protein powders.

Means for weight gain – carbohydrate-protein mixtures with an optimal ratio of simple and complex carbohydrates, enriched with vitamins and trace elements.

Means for maintaining the body in good shape, meal replacements, fat burners are substances that accelerate the mobilization of one’s own fat, metabolism and thermogenic processes, as well as increase efficiency and stimulate mental activity.

Pure mass stimulants are creatine and its transport mixtures designed for optimal utilization in the body. Available in capsule and powder form.

Vitamin-mineral complexes – multivitamins with the optimal ratio of vitamins and minerals necessary in connection with intense training.

Energy and Stamina Boosters are high-energy carbohydrate foods designed to quickly raise blood glucose levels to produce more energy.

Sports nutrition in the form of bars and drinks – designed to quickly replenish energy reserves, mineral salts and amino acids. These dietary supplements are convenient to use, because. have a small volume and are ready to eat without any preparation.