Nutraceuticals for Healthy Life

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Abstract

The lifestyle has improved with economic development of the people. Side by side the major challenge are `lifestyle diseases’ that are due to food habits. Consumption of junk food has increased manifold, which has led to a number of diseases related to nutritional deficiencies. Hence they are shifting from synthetic ingredients towards organic foods and ingredients, which are obtained from natural sources. Of late, Nutraceuticals can play an important role in controlling them and also fulfill all the health requirements. They are incredible dietary supplements that help in prevention or treatment of disease, which is made from raw herbals. This is a rapidly growing industry with more than 100 million people using these natural products but as like drugs, there should be strict regulatory control for nutraceuticals. With extensive anecdotal data on exciting health results, nutraceutical promise significant contributions to disease prevention and allow humans to maintain an overall good health. Nearly two thirds of the world’s 6.1 billion people rely on the healing power of plant based materials for many reasons-availability, affordability, safety or their belief in traditional cures. Hence the demand is irreversibly increasing. According to a new market research, global nutraceuticals market was valued at US$ 165.62 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach US$278.96 billion by 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from 2015 to 2021. Indian markets growing at the rate of 21% per year and among that Amay, Dabur and Pfizer are well recognized. This indicates the people are accepting Nutraceuticals as medicine to make life healthy. DOI: 10.5530/ijper.51.3s.2 Correspondence: Raman DANG, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, #12/1, Chikkabellandur, Carmelaram Post, Varthur Hobli, Bangalore, Karnataka, INDIA. Phone no: +919945846106 E-mail: dangraman2000@ gmail.com INTRODUCTION The term “nutraceutical” combines two words – “nutrient” (a nourishing food component) and “pharmaceutical” (a medical drug). The name was coined in 1989 by Stephen De Felice, founder and chairman of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine, an American organization located in Cranford, New Jersey. A Nutraceutical is a pharmaceutical-grade and standardized nutrient. Nutraceuticals are regulated by FDA under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Categories of nutraceuticals The definition of nutraceuticals and related products generally depends on the source. They can be 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, farmaceuticals. A dietary supplement represents a product that contains nutrients derived from food products, and is often concentrated in liquid, capsule, powder or pill form. Although dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA as foods, their regulation differs from drugs and other foods. According to their generally accepted definition, functional food is a category which includes whole foods and fortified, enriched or enhanced dietary components that may reduce the risk of chronic disease and provide a health-benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains. Medical food is formulated to be consumed or administered internally, under the supervision of a qualified physician. Its intended use is a specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive Raman Dang: Nutraceuticals for Healthy Life Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research | Vol 51 | Issue 3 | Jul-Sep, 2017 (Special Issue) S149 nutritional requirements are established by the medical evaluation (on the basis of recognized scientific principle). Farmaceuticals are medically valuable components produced from modified agricultural crops or animals. The term is a combining of the words “farm” and “pharmaceuticals”. Proponents of this concept are convinced that using crops (and possibly even animals) as pharmaceutical factories is much more cost effective than conventional methods, with higher revenue for agricultural producers. Potential health benefits Over the years nutraceuticals have attracted considerable interest due to their potential nutritional, safety and therapeutic effects. They could have a role in a plethora of biological processes, including antioxidant defenses, cell proliferation, gene expression, and safeguarding of mitochondrial integrity. Therefore nutraceuticals may be used to improve health, prevent chronic diseases, postpone the aging process (and in turn increase life expectancy), or just support functions and integrity of the body. They are considered to be healthy sources for prevention of life threatening diseases such as diabetes, renal and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as different infections. A wide range of nutraceuticals have been shown to impose crucial roles in immune status and susceptibility to certain disease states. They also exhibit diseases modifying indications related to oxidative stress including allergy, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, eye conditions, Parkinson’s diseases and obesity.