A REVIEW ON CURRENT ASPECTS OF NUTRACEUTICALS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Abstract

Using food products to promote health and cure disease is renowned.  Currently, most of the drug molecules available in the formulations were  anciently used in their crude form. Dr Stephen De Felice first coins the term  Nutraceutics in 1989 to provide medical or health benefits including the  prevention and treatment of diseases. Although the term "nutraceutical" is  now recognized internationally as a linguistic combination of “nutrient”  and “pharmaceutical”, and is accepted as “Any substance that may be  considered a food or part of a food and provides medical or health benefits,  including the prevention and treatment of disease.” The greatest challenge  will remain in the public policy and regulatory arenas, which will  encourage research and development of products providing health benefits and permit truthful, nonmisleading communications of these products  while protecting public health and maintaining public confidence.  Nutraceuticals have received considerable interest because of their  presumed safety and potential nutritional and therapeutic effects”.  Pharmaceutical and nutritional companies are aware of the monetary  success taking advantage of the more health-seeking consumers and the  changing trends resulting in a proliferation of these value-added products  aimed at heart health to cancer. Some popular nutraceuticals include  glucosamine, ginseng, echinacea, folic acid, cod liver oil, omega-3 eggs,  calcium-enriched orange juice, green tea etc. Majority of the nutraceuticals  are claimed to possess multiple therapeutic benefits though substantial  evidence is lacking for the benefits as well as unwanted effects. The present  review has been devoted towards better understanding of the nutraceuticals  based on their disease specific indications.