Nutraceutical

Nutraceutical is a term coined from the words "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical," used to describe substances that are technically food or part of a food and provide medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease.

Definition

A nutraceutical is any substance that is a food or part of a food and provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Nutraceuticals may range from isolated nutrients, dietary supplements and diets to genetically engineered foods, herbal products, and processed foods such as cereals, soups, and beverages.

Classification

Nutraceuticals are often classified on the basis of their natural sources, pharmacological conditions, as well as chemical constitution of the products. Most often, they are grouped in the following categories: Dietary Supplements, Functional Food, Medicinal Food, and Farmaceuticals.

Regulation

The regulation of nutraceuticals varies widely by country. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize the term "nutraceutical." A product can be either a food or a drug, but not both.

Health Impact

Nutraceuticals are believed to have health benefits beyond basic nutrition, and may play a role in disease risk reduction, but they are not without risk. While they can come from plant (phytonutrient), animal, and mineral sources, the human body does not always process them efficiently, and in some cases, they can contain toxic compounds.

See Also

• Dietary Supplement
• Functional Food
• Medicinal Food
• Farmaceuticals
• Food and Drug Administration

References

Nutraceutical Resources
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