[The feature and distribution of functional ingredients among health food in China during 1996 to 2007--nutrients and representing substance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate systematically the application of functional ingredients among healthy food products during 1996 to 2007, which existed from the 10 years periods by government approved, to assess the character or condition of ingredients, and analyze the reasons of it's centralization and contribution.


METHODS
Data of functional/bioactive ingredients in functional/healthy food approved by government during 1996 to 2007 were recorded, and selected qualified products to built nutritional and functional ingredients database. Then, The profile map and contribution of each classified of the data was analyzed by statistics method and computer software.


RESULTS
Total 9021 products were approved by gov. during 1996 to 2007, according the condition of samples, qualified 8645 products was as studied samples. The research had showed that Chinese herbs was the main port in ingredients, total 223-378 herbs were used. Nutritional and functional ingredients were second main ingredients, it was high numbers (280 more) among 8645 products. Flavonoids, Saponins and Polysaccharide are applied most widely, which is often to apply as the representing or symbolic substance when the product used a herb material as ingredient.


CONCLUSIONS
Functional ingredients have a variegated appearance along with existent 27 function claims within regulation system. A representing substance was used as a feature that was a universality labeled to declare the characteristics or qualities of herb products. This should be individually reviewed in further and increase the technique on herb and claim.
Yang
Yuexin
Y
Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing.
Wang
Lei
L
Wang
Xianren
X
Gao
Xiaoqiang
X
Zhao
Hongjing
H
D002681:China; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D058870:Food, Organic / Q000592:standards*; D055951:Functional Food / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007881:Legislation, Food
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal