Page 70 - FoodFocusThailand No.200 November 2022

STRATEGIC R&D

Examples of Medical Food Ingredients Used as Energy
Source
• β-lactoglobulin (BLG) is a high-quality whey protein with low
content of phosphorous and minerals. Its nutritional value is designed
to address protein deficiency in chronic kidney disease patients. It
contains 45 percent more leucine, an essential amino acid, than any
general whey protein, and the other essential amino acids are also
26 percent higher.
• α-lactalbumin is rich in essential amino acids, especially
tryptophan and cysteine. The latter is essential to synthesizing
glutathione, an antioxidant that helps curb oxidative stress in the
body – a state of imbalance that is a major contributing factor to the
onset of diabetes.
• Casein Glycomacropeptide has a low content of phenylalanine
but a high amount of neutral amino acids, such as threonine and
dialysis or hemodialysis patients, who can only isoleucine, which can be used by the brain as phenylalanine
consume a limited amount of food. Another example replacements. This substance, therefore, is used in the medical food
is liver disease medical food, which contains a limited formulated for phenylketonuria (PKU) patients whose body is unable
proportion of fat because liver disease patients to effectively metabolize phenylalanine amino acid.
usually experience difficulty digesting fats in food. It • Whey protein concentrate helps maintain the body’s
contains 25 percent protein of the total energy content, requirements for protein. Sufficient protein intake allows the body to
and some of these proteins are branched-chain amino properly and healthily function daily. Whey protein is considered a
acids, which can be used directly by muscle cells high-quality, easily digestible protein and contains high content of
instead of being processed by the liver like other essential amino acids in comparison with protein from other sources.
amino acids. • Whey Protein Hydrolysate is a result of whey protein being
Medical Food for Individuals Requiring High broken down by enzymes. Its molecules are smaller and can be more
3Amounts of Protein and Immunity Enhancement easily absorbed by the body.
This type of medical food offers a higher proportion of • Inulin is an oligosaccharide of fructose and serves as a prebiotic.
proteins in comparison with the standard formulas. It It is suitable for patients with excretory problems, helps relieve
also contains added nutrients that help boost the constipation, and promotes the growth of benign gut microbiota.
immune system to ensure better recovery and prevent • Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT oil) is a triglyceride fat that
further complications while the body is still weak. It is consists of short-chain fatty acids. Ideal for patients with fat absorption
ideal for individuals who need higher amount of protein, difficulty, it is a fat that the body can instantly use.
such as cancer, post-surgery, or burn patients. • Low-Glycemic Index Carbohydrate is suitable for diabetes
Medical Food for Individuals with Digestive and patients as it slows down the increase in blood sugar. Ranked between
4 Absorption Disorders This type of medical food 0 to 55 in the glycemic index (GI), this type of carbohydrate can be
contains whey hydrolysate and medium-chain found in, for example, brown rice, corn, boiled potato, guava, apple,
triglyceride, which facilitate protein digestion and dragon fruit, ducasse banana, and some other fruits.
absorption. It is suitable for patients with liver or Medical food is different from regular food, and it is not a food
pancreas disorders as they usually have trouble supplement because it is formulated in accordance with disease-
digesting and absorbing nutrients. specific dietary requirements. Its consumption must be placed under
Medical Food for Diabetes Patients These medical supervision only. Moreover, the medical food industry has
5 formulas comprise a lower proportion of progressed considerably and can still potentially grow in the future.
carbohydrates than the standard formulas. They rely Nevertheless, there is still a need to integrate additional knowledge,
on low-glycemic index carbohydrates, such as manufacturing technologies, and new health-specific formulas to
maltodextrin, sucromalt, and isomaltulose, to slow ensure continued improvement and achieve greater quality, which
down the post-consumption increase in blood sugar. will then satisfy consumer needs more effectively.
A higher proportion of dietary fibers called fructo-
oligosaccharide (FOS) or inulin helps increase the total
amount of fibers in the digestive system and improve More Information Service Info C010
the excretory system.

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