Understanding the science of how the human gut functions and the role that diet plays in human health will be explored at a major International Functional Foods conference in Cork, this week. Foods have an enormous role to play in keeping people healthy and many foods have properties that can enhance the health of those that consume them. A 'functional food' is one that serves a purpose beyond basic nutrition, promoting health or reducing the risk of certain diseases. The global market for functional foods is expected to increase to €14.7 billion by 2013.
The USA/Ireland Functional Foods conference 2010 brings together some of the leading scientists and food researchers working in Ireland and abroad to discuss the latest developments in this rapidly expanding area. This conference, organised by Teagasc, University College Cork and the United States Department of Agriculture, will focus on the science of gut function and the response to diet. It will address gut hormones and incretin (which causes an increase in insulin release) release, gut microbiota (microbial make-up) for optimal gut function, diet and immune function and biomarkers for enhanced health through diet.
Professor Paul Ross, head of Food Research at Teagasc said: "Health conditions that are diet-related and connected to gut responses include such conditions as obesity and the metabolic syndrome, which are increasingly becoming a problem in Ireland. Food companies are focussing more on the sciences, as they develop functional foods and bioactives with validated health claims. We are currently working on a collaborative project with UCC looking at the impact of gut bacteria including probiotics on human health. There is a major opportunity in this scientific space to translate scientific discovery into new product opportunities for the food industry."
In Ireland, there are already close working relationships between functional food researchers in different organisations. Collaborative research work is being done within the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, (APC) which is one of nine Science Foundation Ireland funded 'Centres of Science, Engineering and Technology' (CSETs) in Ireland.
The research undertaken at the APC focuses primarily on the area of gastrointestinal health. In late 2008 the centre was approved 2nd-term funding of more than €17 million from the Government with industry contribution, to support its research programme for a further five years. In the period since its establishment the centre has flourished into a 100-strong multidisciplinary research team with a variety of funding sources, with staff based at both UCC and Teagasc's Moorepark Food Research Centre.