What are nutraceuticals?

 Why in the News?

On the 29th of April, the food safety and standards authority of India flagged 32 fresh cases of food business operators or food manufacturers making misleading claims and advertisements. regulators also stated that a total of 170 such cases have been reported in the last six months.

While the regulator did not take any names it stated that the violators include manufacturers of Neutraceutical products refined oils pulses flours milk products and ghee.

What are Neutraceutical Products?

Nutraceutical products can be regarded as broad biological therapies used to enhance overall well-being, manage symptoms, and prevent malignant processes.

The term "nutraceutical" is a fusion of "nutrient," denoting a nourishing component of food, and "pharmaceutical," referring to a medical drug. This nomenclature was introduced in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, the founder and chairman of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine, an American organization based in Cranford, New Jersey.

The underlying philosophy of nutraceuticals revolves around prevention, aligning with the famous adage attributed to the Acharya Kashyap , In Kashyap samhita, he stated that "food is the best medicine."  The investigation of their role in human nutrition stands as one of the most crucial areas, bearing significant implications for consumers, healthcare providers, regulators, food producers, and distributors.

Categorization of nutraceuticals

The classification of nutraceuticals and their associated products relies on various factors depending on the source. These products can be categorized based on their natural origins, pharmacological conditions, and the chemical composition of the products. Typically, nutraceuticals are grouped into four main categories: dietary supplements, functional food, medicinal food, and farmaceuticals.

Dietary supplements encompass products that contain nutrients extracted from food sources and are commonly available in concentrated forms such as liquids, capsules, powders, or pills. While dietary supplements fall under the regulation of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods, their regulation differs from that applied to drugs and other food products. Function food, according to its generally accepted definition, includes whole foods as well as fortified, enriched, or enhanced dietary components that may mitigate the risk of chronic diseases and provide health benefits beyond the traditional nutrients they contain.

Medical food is specifically formulated to be consumed or internally administered under the supervision of a qualified physician. Its intended use is the targeted dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinct nutritional requirements have been established through medical evaluation based on recognized scientific principles.

Farmaceuticals refer to medically valuable components that are derived from genetically modified agricultural crops or animals. This term is a blend of "farm" and "pharmaceuticals." Advocates of this concept firmly believe that utilizing crops, and potentially even animals, as pharmaceutical factories proves to be much more cost-effective than conventional methods, leading to increased revenue for agricultural producers.