Nutraceuticals are products derived from food sources that provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of diseases. They include functional foods like oats and omega-3 milk, as well as dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts. While nutraceuticals are generally safer than pharmaceuticals, their effectiveness depends on factors like bioavailability and placebo effects. The global market for nutraceuticals is growing rapidly due to perceived health benefits, though regulations vary between countries. Ongoing research aims to validate health claims and improve production technologies for these food-based medicinal products.

1. NEUTRACEUTICALS
INTRODUCTION:
Nutraceuticals is a combination of words nutrition and pharmaceuticalsthat
provide benefits and used for prevention and treatment of diseases.
FOUNDER:
The term nutraceutical was firstly used by Dr. Stephen L. DeFelice, founder and
chairman of the Foundation of Innovation Medicine (FIM), Crawford, New Jersey.
DEFINITION:
Nutraceutical is a nontoxic food or food component having a nutritional value
causing benefit to health.
WHAT CAUSED THE NEED OF NUTRACEUTICALS?
Chronic ailments with reducedhealingsubstitutes.
Wish for improved medicine.
New stress on defensive medicine.
Large population trying to plank out the effects of aging.
Rushedunspecified exchanges with providers pressurized by managed care.
Public belief that nature is right.
TYPES OF NEUTRACEUTICALS:
Mainly there are two types of nutraceuticals
1-Functional foods
2-Dietry supplements

2. FUNCTIONAL FOODS:
Functional food are the foods that encompasses healthful products including any
modified food or ingredient that may provide health benefit more than its
traditional nutritional value
In Japan all functional foodmust contain three recognized requirements.
1: Food must be present in their naturally-occurring form, rather than a capsule,
tablet, or powder.
2:Food must be consumed in the diet as often as daily and should regulate a
biological process expecting of prevention or control of disease.
Functional food may comprise of following components
Oats, bran, psyllium and lignin’s for and colon cancer heart disease.
Prebiotics-oligofructose for controlling of intestinal flora
Omega-3 milk for preventing heart disease.
Canola oil with lowered triglycerides for cholesterol reduction.
FOR EXAMPLE:
Oat bran helps lower cholesterol as do specially made types of margarine
DIETRY SUPPLEMENT:
Dietary supplements is actually a product that contains nutrients extracted from
food products as like functional food but in contrast to functional food are
concentrated in liquid or capsule form.
The dietary supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 define dietary
supplement as
Products taken by mouth that contains dietary ingredient planned to add
nutrients to diet you eat.

3. Dietary supplements may contain following components
Vitamins minerals,co-enzyme Q,carnitine
Gingsing,Ginko Biloba,saint john’s Wort Saw Palmetto
FOR EXAMPLE:
Black cohosh for menopausal symptoms
Ginkgo biloba for memory loss
Glucosamine/chondroitin for arthritis
Although nutraceutical has two main types but there are other types also like
Medical foods:
Medical foods are the foods that are formulated to be taken or directed internally
under the supervision of physician and which are intended for specific dietary
management of disease for which unique nutritional requirements on basis of
recognized scientific principles are established by medical assessment medical
foods can be consumed through the mouth or through tube feeding.
It comprises of
Transgenic cows and lactoferrin for immune enrichment.
Health bars with added medications.
Transgenic plants for oral vaccination against communicable diseases.
FARMACEUTICALS:
Farmaceutical is a mingling of words farm and pharmaceuticals it refers to
medically essential compounds produced from improved agricultural crops or
animals and it is more effective than conventional techniques and also
beneficialto agriculture producers.

4. CLASSIFICATION OF NEUTRACEUTICALS ON BASIS OF CHMICAL NATURE:
Isoprenoids
Protein/amino-acid based
Minerals
Microbial
Phenolic compounds
Carbohydrate derivatives
Fatty acid STR lipid
LIST OF SOME NEUTRACEUTICALS AND THEIR MEDICINAL VALUE:
5-HTP - This Neurochemical is anantecedent to serotonin, and, rendering to
literature provided by BNG Enterprise, it increases the serotonin levels in the
brain. "Serotonin is obligatory for sleep and emotional constancy, and also for
pain regulation,"
7- keto - A new,random, well-made , double-blind and placebo-controlled study
for body composition containing 7-keto discloses a statistically and
clinicallynoteworthy weight loss and body fat loss in overweight subjects over
eight weeks, with no harmful side consequence. Thiseducation further adds to the
protection of 7-keto as related to other weight loss agents.
Acerola - Acerola contains Vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, proteins,carotene,
thiamin, and mineral salts, mainly iron, calcium, and phosphorus. Acerola has
been used as a tonic against flues and colds, respiratorytroubles, liver illnesses
and indiscretions with the gall bladder
Acetyl-L-Carnitine: Acetyl-L-carnitine is like the amino
acidcarnitne and also has some alikepurposes; it is also involved in
the metabolism of food into energy. The acetyl group that is part of
acetyl-L-carnitine contributes to the making of the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine. Clinical trials suggest that acetyl-L-carnitine postpone
the development of Alzheimer’s disease and improves overall act in
some beings with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s research has been

5. done with the acetyl-L-carnitine form, relatively than the L-carnitine
form, of this nutrient.
Aloe Vera is a well-known herbal plant having nutraceutical property.
Ashwagandha Indian Ginseng, Ayuverdic herb
Beta carotene Beta carotene acts as antioxidant, trapping and neutralizing
Single oxygen molecules and pother free radicals
Boswellia Indian herb, Ayuverdic medicine for anti-inflammation, anti-arthritic on
joints
Guggul Indian herb regulate bad blood cholesterol
Rhodiola Rosea Russian Adaptogen to enhance physical energy.
Triphala a combination of three fruits Amalaki, Bahira, Haritaki.it is a highly
effective, yet gentle; laxative that rejuvenates the membrane lining of the
digestive tract and aids in reduction of inflammation as well as support the liver.
Yohimbe Herbal libido supplements and enhances physical
DAILY EDIBLE FOOD AS NEUTRACEUTICALS:
Like mango onion
Onion contains calcium, iron,phosphorus, vitamin c, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin
and creatin.thus used for cold cough as adiuretic and for preventing heart disease
and blood pressure.
Mango contains tartaric acid, maleic acid, fibre and antioxidants.
These components are very useful for preventing constipationand treating
chronic dysentery and some problems of bladder
Red grape products: contains Antioxidants, resveratrol.
Citrus, tea, wine, and dark chocolate foods: contains flavonoids

6. Berries: contains anthocyanin
Psyllium seed husk: contains Vitamin C
Reducing hypercholesterolemia soluble dietary fiber products.
Similarly ginger and garlic have also medicinal importance their extracts are also
used
FOOD AS MEDICINE:
Documents suggest that the medicalprofits of food have been discovered for
thousands of years. Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, said that people
must use food as their medicine.
The recent nutraceutical industry began to progressin Japan during the 1980s. In
contrast to the natural herbs and spices used as traditionalremedy for centuries
all over Asia, the nutraceutical industry has grown alongside the expansion and
examination of modern skill.
New research conducted among food experts show that there is more
to foodsciences than what was assumed a few ago. Firstly analysis of food was
restricted to the flavor and nutritional value of foodthough; there is growing
proof that other constituents of food may play an essential role in health
These chemical constituents are extracted from plant, food and microbial sources,
and provide medical benefits and good for long-term health. Examples of these
nutraceutical chemicals include probiotics, phytochemicals and antioxidants.
Nutraceutical products were known to be an alternatemedication for numerous
years. Nutraceuticals have become a more mainstream complement to the
diet research has started to show proof that these chemicals present in food are
often valuable when treatedefficiently and advertisedproperly.
Nutraceuticals as therapeutic agents in osteoarthritis:
Nutraceutical have shown good results for treatment of osteoarthritis but having
pros and cons however so it is our wish weather to use them in therapy or not.

7. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHARMACEUTICALS AND NEUTRACEUTICALS:
Pharmaceutical is any chemical substance that got absorbed into living body and
change body function and more precisely pharmaceutical is manufacturing of
drugs and a drug is a substance that is aimed to cure or prevent disease.
Pharmaceuticals are specifically designed to treat illness. Pharmaceuticals are
manmade and the raw materials used in producing these medicines are from
chemicals formulated and as manmade can’t be perfect some of the chemicals
are foreign to body which can have adverse effects on body while nutraceuticals
are natural materials common thing in both that both provide health benefits and
used for treatment of disease. They different in the sense that the primary
makeup is food not chemical they have derived from natural material the food we
eat. Nutraceuticals also combat free radicals as many believe that free radicals are
root cause of many diseasesThe inclusion of nutraceuticals to your dietary and
exercise program can help you maintain a healthy cholesterol level maintain
healthy blood vessel and support cardiovascularhealth and decrease the risk of
stroke and heart attack.it is simple to consume absorbed easily and has little side
effects. Thus nutraceuticals have proven alternative to pharmaceuticals
HERBAL REMIDIES VS NEUTRACEUTICALS:
Nutraceuticals fits a place between pharmaceuticals and herbal remedies
Let’sconsider an example for cure of osteoporosis we use the following range
Food-macro-that is leafy greens that have alkaline mineral which promote strong
bones
Herbalremedies-Micro i.e.Oyster shell which is a traditional remedy for strong
bones rich in calcium
Nutraceutical-isolated nutrient-i.e. Calcium which is the primary mineral of bone
structure

8. Pharmaceutical: altogether synthetic compound i.e. Fosamax which is drug meant
to slow down or reverse bone density loss
Which is good pharmaceutical nutraceutical or herbal remedy?
All work for curing of diseases all are beneficial but everything has some
advantages as well as disadvantages.
Herbal remedies are taken in holistic fashionany time one force thing in a
dramatic way he’ll might be able to attain dramatic effect but it will give rise to
series of other difficulties. Avoid tablets as possible. Tablet are formed by
compressing components at high heat and they have to be bound together by
various bindersisolating a single nutrient imbalance whatever substances you are
taking Although most of nutrients have fire powerthan pharmaceutical they can
imbalance the body you would not want to take active ingredient of banana it is
wise to take banana regularly so you can get everything that banana offer
generally try to use things close to nature so herbal remedies are best in that they
can go in long way enablinglong-lasting and lively health .
MARKET AND DEMAND:
According to market statistics, the global functional food and nutraceutical
market is growing at a rate that is overtaking the traditional processed
food.Thoughthe price of some nutraceuticals may fall as generic products make
their way into the marketplace people reliance on these products and their
growingobtainabilitypropose that the growth shall be stable Canada has arisen as
a leading world supplier in this growing market .almost 47% of japan population is
using nutraceutical.Nutraceutical industry in US is approximately $86 billion the
figure is slightly higher in japan.

9. EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY:
REGULATION:
Nutraceutical products arebroadlyaccessibleand checked with same level of
inspection within oversight of Federal food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Unlike many other countries such as Canada the use of broad-based definitions
creates varyingreliability distinguishing the standards, function, and effectiveness
between nutraceuticals and dietary supplements within this loose regulatory
oversight, genuine companies producing nutraceuticals provide reliable scientific
research to substantiate their manufacturing standard products and consumer
benefits and discriminate their productsfrom dietary supplements. In US it is not
regulated by FDA
INTERNATIOPNAL SOURCES:
In the internationalmarketplace, there are noteworthymanufactured goodsworth
issues Nutraceuticals from the global market may claim to use organic or exotic
constituents, up till now the absence of guideline may compromise the protection
and efficiency of goods. Companies observing to generate a good profit
margin may produceunfettered products oversees with low-quality or
fruitlesscomponents.
BIOAVAILABILITY:
Bioavailability that can be believed of as the “absorption rate” of a supplement
product is the foremost challenge in concluding effective nutraceutical products.
Betweenunrefined foods, not all diets are cracked down and digested as
efficiently. Nutraceuticals with low absorption proportions results in nutrients
being excreted from the body without given that any nutritional or medicinal
benefit.
IMPACT OF PALACEBO EFFECT:
As like pharmaceuticals, portion of the usefulness of nutraceuticals may be
credited to the placebo effect. Customersconsuming nutraceuticals may

10. mistakenlypraise their usage of nutraceuticals for curingsickness, when the body
becomes capable to recover on its own.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
Further research and development is going on in this field ofnutraceutical.
Nutraceutical development is increasingly focusedon scientifically validated
health claims and technological development.
AAFC’s policy is dedicated to improve human health and wellness through food
and nutrition. At the federal government level, AAFC takes a team approach to
research, with world class specialists from across the country working together to
bring awareness and ideas in specific fields to cover the value chain spectrum
from farm to fork.
Canada can play an important part in this emerging market with solid rate
effective research competences and cooperation among governments, academic
circles, health organization, and industry through the country.

11. REFERENCES:
Http:en.wikepedia.org/wiki/nutraceuticals
www.answer.com/topic/nutraceuticals
www.foodandfunction.net
www.chiro.org/nutrition/FULL/Functional-Foods.shtml
www.caslab.com/News/category/phrma-nutra
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10356424
www.metagenis.com/-United Statesintl-
ncp.sagepub.com/content/26/2/199.extract
Onlinelibrary.wiley.com>Nutrition and Dietetics>Nutrition
Books:
Nutraceutical and functional food
Phytosterols as Functional Food Components and Nutraceuticals
Functional Foods: Designer Foods, Pharmafoods, Nutraceuticals