Nutraceutical: A Drug, Dietary Supplement and Food Ingredient

Title:Nutraceutical: A Drug, Dietary Supplement and Food Ingredient

Volume: 13 Issue: 1

Author(s): Anu Keshwani, Bhanu Malhotra and Harsha Kharkwal

Affiliation:

Keywords: Dietary supplements, marketed nutraceuticals, nutraceuticals therapy, therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Background: Nutraceuticals are bioactive substances which are known for their therapeutic activity against a wide range of diseases. The term nutraceutical is derived from the terms ‘nutrition’ and ‘pharmaceuticals’ and refers to a food product that elicits medical health benefits for the prevention and cure of diseases. A nutraceutical has been investigated and indicated to exhibit physiological benefits and protection against various chronic diseases like cancers, cardiovascular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, etc.

Aim: The aim of the current review article is to distinguish nutraceuticals from possibly confusing terms like functional foods, medical foods, and dietary supplements with their detailed classification. This paper presents the use of researched nutraceutical products to treat various diseases. Last, the attention on the commercialized nutraceutical products with certain safety regulations is elaborated as a growing concern. Nutraceuticals will be greatly important in human health as they provide all the essential components of a healthy diet.

Conclusion & Future: With an aim to improve the quality of life at present, nutraceutical represents the fastest-growing segment of today’s food industry. The future is centered on the newly designed foods stocked at the supermarkets providing a better standard of life, giving a healthier way of living to people reaching throughout the world.

Cite this article as:

Keshwani Anu, Malhotra Bhanu and Kharkwal Harsha, Nutraceutical: A Drug, Dietary Supplement and Food Ingredient, Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine 2015; 13 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1875692113666151026214141