Bioactives in Food-As-Medicine for Special Medical Purposes

With rising global attention to health and the accelerating trend of population aging, the demand for Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs) has increased substantially. These products are formulated not only to meet the basic nutritional needs of individuals with specific diseases or physiological conditions but also to provide regulatory physiological effects. In this context, the "Food-As-Medicine" (FAM) concept has gained growing interest. FAM seeks to prevent and treat diseases through the incorporation of functional foods into health management strategies and aligns closely with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of "Food-Medicine Homologous" (FMH). Guided by FMH principles, natural bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins have drawn significant attention for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. However, their broader application faces several challenges, including low extraction efficiency, complex purification procedures, and difficulties in ensuring stability, all of which hinder industrial-scale development. This review systematically explores the potential, challenges, and opportunities of FMH-based products in FSMPs, with a particular emphasis on infant nutrition, maternal health, and the management of chronic diseases in the elderly. Our findings highlight the dual value of FMH ingredients in both nutritional support and functional modulation. Furthermore, by integrating FMH theory with modern nutritional science, this review offers a scientific basis for the innovative development of FSMPs. Given the growing global market demand and the increasing dissemination of TCM culture, this field is poised to enter a new phase of development.