In the recent years, the accelerating global demographic shift toward population aging has been accompanied by a marked increase in the prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, notably Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. Among emerging approaches, dietary interventions targeting the gut–brain axis have garnered considerable attention, owing to their potential to modulate key pathogenic pathways underlying neurodegenerative processes. This review synthesizes current concepts in precision nutrition and elucidates neurohumoral, immune, and metabolic regulatory mechanisms mediated by the gut microbiota, including the roles of the vagus nerve, cytokines, short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, polyphenols, and microbial metabolites. Emerging evidence underscores that dysbiotic alterations contribute to compromised barrier integrity, the initiation and perpetuation of neuroinflammatory responses, pathological protein aggregations, and the progressive course of neurodegenerative diseases. Collectively, these insights highlight the gut microbiota as a pivotal target for the development of precision-based dietary strategies in the prevention and mitigation of neurodegenerative disorders. Particular attention is devoted to key bioactive components such as prebiotics, probiotics, psychobiotics, dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and polyphenols that critically participate in regulating the gut–brain axis. Contemporary evidence on the contribution of the gut microbiota to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis is systematically summarized. The review further discusses the prospects of applying nutrigenomics, chrononutrition, and metagenomic analysis to the development of personalized dietary strategies. The presented findings underscore the potential of integrating precision nutrition with targeted modulation of the gut–brain axis as a multifaceted approach to reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and preserving cognitive health.

Expanding the range of healthy food products is one of the most promising areas in the field of food science. In recent years, there has been an active development of the global trend of functional nutrition aimed at strengthening general health, as well as preventing common non-communicable diseases and metabolic disorders. Chocolate, occupying a leading position among confectionery products, continues to demonstrate a steady growth in consumption on a global scale, which is due to its unique taste and sensory and functional properties. Modern trends in the food industry are aimed at further improving the composition and properties of chocolate, which makes it a promising object for scientific research and innovative developments. This review is devoted to the systematization and study of modern research aimed at developing functional types of chocolate that meet the principles of healthy nutrition. The paper considers the potential of bioactive components, such as polyphenols, probiotics, prebiotic components, dietary fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and plant extracts, for use in the functionalization of chocolate. These compounds have pronounced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cardioprotective properties. Particular attention is paid to the role of bioactive components of cocoa and chocolate in the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, strengthening the cardiovascular system, improving cognitive functions, and normalizing the composition of intestinal microbiota. In addition, promising areas in the field of production technologies and innovative solutions aimed at creating functional types of chocolate with improved consumer properties are considered. The relevance of these developments is due to the growing demand for food products that combine high taste qualities and functionality, which opens up new opportunities for health-oriented nutrition.

The article sets out data on the development of a specialized product for sports nutrition “Fruit-milk bar” with directed preventive properties. A scientific justification of the choice of raw materials with an increased content of the full-fledged protein of animal and plant origin, polyunsaturated fatty acids, easily digestible carbohydrates, organic acids, water-and-fat vitamins, macro-and microelements, bioflavonoids, collagen. The purpose of this study was the scientific substantiation and development of a new specialized product for sports nutrition based on local raw materials with increased food and biological value. The work used generally accepted analytical, physicochemical and technological research methods. The choice of raw materials and the composition of the product aimed at resolving issues to increase the body's resistance to increased physical and neuro-emotional stresses are justified. The recipe is given the product preparation technology, data on the physicochemical and organoleptic indicators of the product, as well as safety indicators, are given.

Recently, interest in the production of tea and tea drinks has increased due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. The composition of tea is complex and is still not fully understood. Therefore, the development of new technology of tea and functional tea drinks opens a unique opportunity for domestic manufacturer to produce competitive products.In this study the technology of three types of tea drinks based on raw components of fruits, berries and medicinal plants «Antioxidant», «Immunostimulating», «Cardiovascular» with targeted preventive properties was developed, where the physicochemical, mineral composition and organoleptic parameters were studied.The results of the analysis showed that the highest concentrations of vitamin C (mg/100 g) were found in sea buckthorn fruits (215.7±18.4), black currant fruits (196.5±14.3), melissa leaves (100.1±9.9), lemon peel (90.5±8.4) and Goji berries (49.5±3.8). High β-carotene content (mg/100 g) was observed in Goji berries, lemon balm leaves and sea buckthorn fruits – 91.3±7.6; 47.2±3.6 and 33.7±2.9 mg/100 g, respectively. In addition, fruits, berries and medicinal plants selected as raw components had high levels of flavonoids, xanthophylls, tocopherols, phenolic compounds and other biologically active substances. Cranberry berries (44.8±3.2), Goji berries (31.0±2.6), black tea leaves (25.4±1.9), black currant fruits (21.6±1.2) and peppermint leaves (15.2±1.1) had high levels of total antioxidants (mg/100 g) due to the increased content of catechins, anthocyanins, carotenoids, vitamin C, tannin and bioflavonoids, contributing to the reduction of oxidative stress and protecting cells from the destructive effects of free radicals. Prophylactic tea blends have been studied and shown to have high taste, fine exquisite aroma and actively stimulating and therapeutic properties, according to the created formulations, taking into account antioxidant immunostimulating activity.

Currently, one of the global problems of world health is the widespread occurrence of chronic non-communicable diseases caused by individual psychological and social correlates of nutrition, as well as insufficient physical activity. One of the ways to solve this problem is to conduct an effective policy of rationalizing the population's nutrition by introducing new specialized food products for dietary and preventive nutrition into the diet. In this regard, it is relevant to develop new healthy food products from the range of confectionery products enriched with various natural biologically active compounds that have pronounced restorative and immunomodulatory properties, using modern biotechnological approaches. The purpose of this research was to study the technological features of the enrichment of chocolate products with sulfated polysaccharide – fucoidan, isolated from brown algae. The article presents data on the use of mare's milk powder and fucoidan in the design of chocolate products with desired properties. In the course of the study, the optimal doses of adding fucoidan powder to the composition of chocolate were studied, and the organoleptic and physicochemical properties of the developed products were evaluated. The applied doses of fucoidan powder were studied at concentrations of 0.001%, 0.005%, 0.01% and 0.05%. The results of the assessment of organoleptic and physico-chemical parameters of laboratory batches of chocolate products showed that the optimal dose of fucoidan powder, as a functional component, is a concentration of 0.01 g per 100 g of the product. Based on the results of the study, the composition and technology for the production of specialized chocolate products was developed.

The article presents data on the development of new types of tea drinks based on fruit and vegetable raw materials with directed preventive properties. A scientific and experimental substantiation of the choice of raw materials with a high content of biologically active substances, in particular, vitamins, macro- and microelements, phenolic compounds, bioflavonoids, organic acids, has been carried out. 3 types of tea drinks have been developed - "Antioxidant", "Immunostimulating", "Cardiovascular". The purpose of this study was the scientific substantiation and development of new types of tea drinks with targeted preventive properties. The research materials were fruit and vegetable raw materials with a high content of essential nutrients. The generally accepted analytical, physicochemical and technological research methods were used in the work. The choice of raw materials is substantiated, taking into account the physiological effect on the antioxidant defense system, immunity and the functioning of the cardio-vascular system. The recipes of specialized fruit-based tea drinks with the addition of medicinal plants are given. The physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics of tea drinks are evaluated, data on the chemical composition, including the main biologically active substances, are given. The developed functional tea drinks for mass consumption and preventive purposes are developed according to the created recipes, taking into account the antioxidant immunostimulating activity, as well as the beneficial effect of individual components of teas on the functioning of the cardiovascular system.