Nutraceuticals and their impact on human health

Abstract Basic concept behind nutraceuticals is to “take care about what you eat and stay healthy.” Stephen De-Felice coined the term Nutraceuticals, which is a portmanteau of “nutrient” and “pharmaceutical.” Different types of nutraceuticals are functional food, medical food, dietary supplements, dietary fibers, prebiotics, and probiotics. Nutraceuticals provide multiple health benefits ranging from general well-being to treatment of chronic disease. Nutraceutical improves health by enhancing nutrient absorption, increasing detoxification, and supporting microflora of gastrointestinal tract. Health benefits of nutraceuticals are due to their diverse chemical composition, which includes fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, phenolics, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and polyols. Being of natural origin, nutraceuticals are considered as safe for human consumption, but due to their intended medical use, nutraceuticals are also regulated by certain guidelines made for drugs. Limitations of nutraceuticals include their slow mode of action and lack of strict control over their quality and concentration of ingredient.