FUNCTIONAL FOODS, NUTRACEUTICAL AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS.

So we meet again! Let's check this today's topic regarding the functional food and nutraceutical.

The high prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer and communicable and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity have become serious health problems worldwide. Diet has a great effect on our health. The choice of the right food regardless of medical conditions may contribute to better health. However, under certain medical conditions, eating the original state of food may not enough to exhibit a maximum function. Thus, triggering the needs of a food or any related agent to overcome this crisis.

Functional food based on Journal of American Dietetic Association (2009) is defined as the food “that include whole foods and fortified, enriched, or enhanced foods have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed as part of a varied diet on a regular basis, at effective levels.” Whereas, neutraceutical is defined as "a food (or part of a food) that provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and/or treatment of a disease" .The simple way to explain the relationship between functional food and neutraceutical is when then food is altered to prevent or treat the diseases. However, it differs with dietary supplements. Definition by Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 defined that dietary supplement is “a product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet, which contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients—a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance to supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combinations of these ingredients; is ingested in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form; is not represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet”.

To a better understanding and distinguish these three terms:

• Functional food: look like food and are modified for higher nutritional value.

• Nutraceutical: part of dietary supplements made only from whole foods to enhance health.

• Dietary supplements: look like drugs (capsules, tablets etc) and are made from food, isolated nutrients or food-like substances to enhance health.

People with a normal healthy condition, the functional food, nutraceutical and dietary supplements may not necessary. The consumptions of these kinds of food need a better understanding, guidance and prescription. The availability of these products in the markets keep increasing and the claims stated influenced the people to try these products. People need to become more alert about the safety and the validity of these products whether it has been registered under the reliable ministry or agency.