Functional ingredient taurine: adequate and clinically effective doses

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid. Taurine is necessary for the conjugation of bile acids, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, acts as an anti-apoptotic factor; cell membrane stabilizer; regulator of Ca2+ signaling, fluid homeostasis in cells, retinal photoreceptor activity; contributes to osmoregulation and conduction in the nervous and muscular systems; a neurodevelopmental stimulant; and an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Taurine is not only synthesized from cysteine and methionine, but also comes from food. Taurine intake is 40–400 mg/day. The main food sources are animal products: shellfish, fish, meat. Taurine is part of breast milk and adapted milk formulas for the nutrition of young children. Under stress and some diseases, the endogenous synthesis of taurine is reduced. The risk groups for taurine deficiency include people who follow a vegetarian diet and observe religious fasts. There are a number of products in which taurine is added: specialized food products (SF) and food supplements (FS) contain 60–1200 mg of taurine per serving, energy drinks – 300–400 mg per 100 ml. The clinical effects of taurine in diabetes mellitus, heart failure are manifested when it is included in diet therapy in doses of 1.5–3 g for  2–16 weeks. Even the maximum doses allowed for use as part of SFP and dietary supplements are significantly less than the doses that ensure the achievement of a clinical effect, which does not guarantee the expected result when using SF

VITAMIN MINERAL COMPLEXES FOR CHILDREN IN THE PERIOD OF ACTIVE SOCIAL ADAPTATION

The subnormal vitamin deficiency form poses a threat to the normal growth and development of the child. Reduced supply of vitamins A, PP, B6, B12, E is associated with decreased immunity, and increases the risk of physical development delay and the formation of functional diseases. According to 2015--2017 data, the vitamin provision pattern for preschool and school children is almost the same regardless of the place of their residence: only one in four or five children are provided by all vitamins. Up to 50% of children suffer from polyhypovitaminosis, (i.e., a deficiency of 3 or more vitamins). In the settings of insufficient production of food products enriched with vitamins, the main way to eliminate vitamin deficiency is the use of vitamin mineral complexes. The inter-vitamin interactions and the high incidence of polyhypovitaminosis conditions among the children give occasion to use the vitamin mineral complexes (VMCs). The intake of VMCs is more efficient in comparison with the use of monovitamins. When choosing an VMC for children, one should give preference to complexes containing a full set of vitamins to be taken in an amount comparable with the age recommended intake, and mineral substances, which deficit is most often found in the population of Russia. The systematic consumption of food products enriched with vitamins and/or VMCs results in increased levels of vitamins in blood plasma, a decreased frequency of polyhypovitaminosis, increased number of children adequately provided with all the vitamins

Vitamin-mineral supplements for correction of multiple micronutrient deficiency

Multiple micronutrient deficiency (simultaneous insufficient supply of the organism with several vitamins at once (vitamin D, B group), as well as calcium, magnesium, zinc and iodine, and not an isolated deficiency of any one micronutrient is characteristic of a significant part of the Russian population throughout the year, regardless of places of residence. The growing need of the organism at different periods of life (puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging), various diseases, drug therapy, the period of convalescence, stress, the use of various diets, enrichment of the diet with polyunsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber, religious observance, adverse environmental factors further increase the risk of multiple micronutrient deficiencies. Micronutrients (vitamins and essential minerals) are closely interconnected into complex metabolic networks, which provide maintaining homeostasis and health. Deficiency of each of the essential micronutrients is a risk factor for the development of a particular disease, and simultaneous multiple micronutrient deficiency creates a “causality network” of not just one, but several diseases at once. Conversely, an adequate or optimal sufficiency of the body with all micronutrients, respectively, creates a “network of conditions ensuring the prevention of the disease”, due to the full implementation of all processes dependent on them in the body. This means that replenishing inadequate food intake of scarce micronutrients is an important way to maintain health and longevity. Given the variety of vitamin-mineral supplements, it is important to choose the right supplement. The maximum effectiveness to maintain the body’s vitamin and mineral status at the optimum level will be ensured by the intake of not individual micronutrients, but vitamin and mineral supplements containing a complete set of vitamins in doses close to the physiological needs of the body and basic minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc and iodine), the deficit of which is characteristic for the Russian population