On October 1, 2013, the implementation of the “Administrative Measures for the Review of the Safety of New Food Ingredients” marked the development of the new resource food system implemented in China into a new food ingredient system, and at the same time, the concept of new food ingredients has officially replaced the original new resource food.

New food ingredients refers to the following items that have no traditional consumption habits in China: animals, plants and microorganisms; components separated from animals, plants and microorganisms; food ingredients whose original structure has changed; and other newly developed food ingredients. New food ingredients should have the characteristics of food ingredients, in line with the nutritional requirements should have, and non-toxic, harmless, does not cause any acute, subacute, chronic or other potential harm to human health. New food ingredients do not include genetically modified foods, health foods and food additives. New food ingredients need to be reviewed by the National Health and Family Planning Commission for safety before they can be used in food production and operation.

Since the approval of new food ingredients in 2008 to date, so far, more than 110 ingredients have been approved. These approved new food ingredients according to the source of raw materials and attributes, can be divided into bacteria, functional sugars, plant food, plant extracts and other eight categories, see the table below:

As we know, immunity is an important defense mechanism of the human body, and the human immune system will take the initiative to protect the health of the organism when there are bacteria, viruses and other substances that threaten the health of the human body in the outside world.

A large number of studies have shown that many approved new food ingredients have the effect of enhancing immunity, and these new food ingredients have been more and more appear in candy, yogurt, beverages and other types of food, and gradually gained public recognition.

So, which of these approved new food ingredients are related to the enhancement of immunity?

Bacteria

At present, new food ingredients contain a variety of probiotic ingredients, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum and so on. Research has proved that probiotics can enhance body immunity by improving the structure of intestinal flora, inhibiting the growth and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria, inhibiting the colonization and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria, repairing the function of intestinal epithelial barrier, and promoting the absorption of mineral elements.

In addition, chrysanthemum cordyceps, Guangdong cordyceps substrate, and fermented mycelium of the tea-currant leafy layer fungus in mushrooms have good utility in enhancing human immunity. Among them, Cordyceps Chrysanthemi, also known as Cordyceps Sinensis, is of the same origin and genus as wild Cordyceps. Natural wild Cordyceps sinensis was first published in the Compendium of Materia Medica of Xinhua Materia Medica, which has the effect of “benefiting the lungs and kidneys, replenishing the essence and marrow, stopping bleeding and resolving phlegm”.

Many researches have proved that Cordyceps Sinensis is rich in cordycepin and other active ingredients, which have the functions of enhancing immunity, antibacterial, hypoxia resistance, etc., and also has good curative effect on lung deficiency cough, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, etc. For example, cordycepin can activate T-cells, which are the most effective in the treatment of chronic bronchitis and asthma. For example, cordycepin can activate T-cell sensing receptor, so that the T-cells for the abnormalities in the body (such as: mutated cells, foreign infected bacteria, fungi and viruses) to enhance the degree of recognition; Cordyceps polysaccharides can improve the respiratory system, inhibit the growth of tumors; Cordyceps acid can inhibit the growth of various pathogens, and so on.

Guangdong Cordyceps subunit is a new species published by researchers of Guangdong Institute of Microbiology in 2008, which is a new resource of Cordyceps unique to China. The fermented mycelium of Teasel leafy layer bacteria, also known as Honeysuckle fungus, has pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, treatment of tumors and diabetes mellitus.

Sugar

Sugar in a broad sense, also known as carbohydrates, is one of the three basic substances in the biological world and the most abundant organic matter in nature, which can be categorized into monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and so on. Among them, oligosaccharides, also known as oligosaccharides, are low polymerized sugars consisting of 2 to 10 monosaccharides connected by glycosidic bonds to form straight or branched chains, such as oligofructose, oligogalactose, oligo-xylulose and so on.

It is found that oligosaccharides are not digested and absorbed in human gastrointestinal tract and directly enter into the large intestine for bifidobacteria to utilize, which is the proliferation factor of intestinal beneficial bacteria, and can promote the ecological balance of intestinal flora, such as oligosaccharides have strong adsorption of pathogenic bacteria and are not degraded by the digestive enzymes in the intestinal tract, which can carry attached pathogenic bacteria through the intestinal tract to the body, thus preventing diseases in the intestinal tract in clusters.

In addition, yeast β-glucan is a kind of polysaccharide with immunity-enhancing activity present in yeast cell wall, and research has proved that yeast β-glucan is able to activate macrophages by combining with macrophages; it can activate T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, macrophage cells, natural killer cells (NK), etc. to play the role of immune enhancer; it can secrete some cytokines to activate the immune cells; and it can activate the neutrophil granulocytes in the gastrointestinal tissues, thus preventing diseases from clustering in the intestines. Neutrophils and phagocytes in gastrointestinal tissues, which further activates and influences the “immune-neuro-endocrine” regulatory network, and enhances its anti-infective, anti-stress and cellular adaptive protective capacity, and at the same time, it also has the functions of adsorption, elimination of mycotoxins, anti-radiation, and promotion of wound healing. At the same time, it also has the function of adsorbing and eliminating mycotoxins, anti-radiation and promoting wound healing.

Phytophagy

Since ancient times, Chinese people, with the exception of some ethnic minorities, have relied on plant foods. Many plant foods not only provide the body with the required proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, but also have a certain medicinal value, which can regulate the body’s immunity, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and other effects. Such as:

Snow lotus cultures are selected from the isolated tissues of Tianshan snow lotus obtained after treatment and culture, a large number of studies have found that snow lotus cultures contain alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, sugars, and other physiologically active ingredients, which have the ability to significantly increase the rate of macrophage phagocytosis and T-lymphocyte conversion rate; alleviate UVB radiation-induced apoptosis, reduce inflammatory damage, alleviate oxidative damage to damaged cells; can inhibit acetic acid-induced murine It can inhibit acetic acid-induced peritoneal capillary permeability and the swelling rate of rats’ toes caused by carrageenan gum, and reduce the pain threshold of rats’ inflammatory swollen feet caused by carrageenan gum, and so on.

Ginseng is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine in China that has good effects on both tonifying deficiency and dispelling evil. Modernization studies show that ginseng is mainly composed of ginsenosides, ginseng polysaccharides and other active substances, which have the effect of improving the immune system and other effects; white cress, thread-leaved golden cress, green cress leaves and snake grape leaves are rich in flavonoids, which have antioxidant effects; visible vein rhinoceros, chia seeds, and round-bracted psyllium husk are rich in dietary fiber, which can enhance the immune system by regulating the health of the intestinal tract. It can enhance the body’s immunity by regulating the health of the intestinal tract.

Plant extracts

Plant extracts are products formed by taking plants as raw materials, obtaining and concentrating one or more active ingredients in plants in a targeted manner, without changing the structure of the active ingredients.

As early as during the “SARS” epidemic, experts at home and abroad mentioned that drinking tea can enhance resistance and prevent infectious diseases.

According to the research in the United States, this effect of tea may be related to theanine, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and other active ingredients, such as: theanine can enhance the human immune system by regulating the immune cells and resist the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi.

In addition, EGCG has been widely used in a variety of antiviral studies on hepatitis viruses, hand, foot and mouth disease, HIV, influenza viruses, HPV, etc. Through these studies, it was found that EGCG can inhibit viral replication by regulating the cellular redox environment, preventing the formation of progeny viruses; and it has an inhibitory effect on the acidification of intracellular compartments, such as endosomes and lysosomes, which can lead to the growth of influenza viruses in tissue culture being Inhibition of influenza virus growth in tissue culture, etc.

In addition, inulin can selectively promote the growth and metabolism of beneficial intestinal bacteria, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, and regulate the balance of intestinal flora, can increase the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione S-transferase, alleviate and improve the ulcerative colon, can increase the expression of calcium-binding proteins, and promote the absorption of calcium ions, and can promote the proliferation of intestinal cells, thereby increasing the intestinal absorptive surface area; the flavonoids of bamboo leaf, (3R,3 ‘R)-dihydroxy-β-carotene are highly efficient biological antioxidants, which can resist the damage of cells and organs caused by free radicals in the human body, inhibit the auto-oxidation of cellular lipids and prevent the cellular damage brought by oxidation, so as to achieve the reduction of cancer and enhancement of immune function.

The radish thioglycosides contained in the aqueous extract of broccoli seeds are the most active isothiocyanates, and are considered to be the strongest anticancer components found in vegetables so far, and have the effect of protecting and promoting the normalization of the immune organs suppressed by cyclophosphamide.

Algae and their extracts

Algae is a class of relatively primitive and ancient lower organisms, as early as in China’s ancient Shennong’s Classic of the Materia Medica, there are records of its medicinal value, and modern research has further confirmed its edible and medicinal value. Such as:

Rainy red algae is rich in astaxanthin, which is recognized as the most ideal source of natural astaxanthin production in nature, and astaxanthin, as one of the most efficient natural antioxidants discovered so far, shows good biological activity in scavenging free radicals, anti-aging, anti-tumor, and immune regulation; Chlorella proteus is able to produce a large amount of proteins by using sunlight, and its protein content is more than that of high-protein foods, such as beef and soybeans, while it contains a kind of high protein content, and it is also a kind of protein that can be used for food production. Chlorella proteina can use sunlight to produce a large amount of protein, and its protein content exceeds that of high-protein foods such as beef and soybeans, and it also contains a precious growth factor (CGF), which can promote the enhancement of the body’s physical fitness, especially for children and the elderly, and strengthen the immune function; Salt algae is a kind of extremely salt-resistant unicellular eukaryotic green alga, which is rich in a variety of natural carotenoids, such as β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and so on, and it has strong antioxidant capacity and immune-boosting It has strong antioxidant ability and immunity-boosting effect.

Protein

Studies have shown that high quality protein can stimulate the cells of the human immune system and act as a supplement for infants and young children or people with compromised immune systems, increasing resistance to disease and reducing the likelihood of illness. Quality proteins also serve as components that make up antibodies with immune function and can bind to foreign proteins, an important step in removing foreign invaders.

Peptide is an organic compound between amino acids and proteins, which has a smaller molecular mass than proteins and a larger molecular mass than amino acids, and is a fragment of the protein molecule. It has the effect of being easily absorbed, compatible with allergies, low osmotic pressure, and reducing the possibility of diarrhea, vomiting and other discomforts. If protein intake is insufficient, immune function will be impaired.

Experts suggest that increasing the intake of high-quality protein and improving immunity will reduce susceptibility and also enhance self-healing ability.

For example, wheat oligopeptide has a balanced amino acid content, almost the same as wheat protein, with the highest content of glutamic acid, most of which exists in the form of glutamine.

It is found to have various biological activities such as immunomodulation, antioxidant, anti-allergy, etc. It can stimulate the proliferation of lymphocytes in the organism, enhance the phagocytosis of macrophages, improve the ability of the organism to resist the infection of external pathogens, and reduce the morbidity rate of the organism.

Oils and their derivatives

Consumption of oils and their derivatives is an important way for people to obtain essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid. In addition, different sources of oils and their derivatives can also improve the body’s immunity from different angles.

For example: tomato seed oil contains lycopene, which can effectively remove free radicals, regulate cellular metabolism, and improve human immunity; fish oil and krill oil are rich in essential unsaturated fatty acids DHA and EPA, which play an important role in the early development of the immune system, and at the same time, help the immune system play a better role in the entire lifecycle, which can regulate inflammatory responses, enhance immune function; arachidonic acid oil, which is a peanut tetraoleate oil, is an important way for people to obtain essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid. oils and fats, namely arachidonic acid, is the synthesis of prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes and other eicosanoid derivatives of the direct precursor to these bioactive substances on the human cardiovascular system and the immune system has a very important role; conjugated linoleic acid has a scavenging of free radicals, to enhance the human body’s antioxidant capacity, can be adjusted through the tumor necrosis factor – Α, cytokines (Interleukin 1,4,6,8), prostaglandins or nitrogen oxides, and other substances to regulate the body’s immunity, while also reducing allergic immune reactions.

Other Classes

N-Acetyl Neuraminic Acid (Bird’s Nest Acid), also known as Sialic Acid, can be bound to the cell surface to play a hydrophilic, protect the cell surface, regulate the activity of immune cells, scavenging pathogens, and mediate the role of cross-linking of molecules on the surface of the cell; it can block the interaction between intrinsic receptors and sugar groups for biological protection.

Mussel polysaccharide can significantly promote the proliferation of splenocytes, improve the activity of peritoneal macrophages, enhance the ability of peritoneal macrophages to phagocytosis of neutrophilic red, and can restore the immunocompromised function due to CPA-induced.

In recent years, although the nutritional level of the nation has increased year by year, the problems of life stress and balanced nutrition have become more prominent. With the in-depth study of new food ingredients in enhancing immunity and other health functions, more and more new food ingredients will come into the public life, adding to the national health, and open up a new way of healthy life.