Emergence of nutraceuticals as the alternative medications for pharmaceuticals

The term ‘Nutraceutical’ was first devised in 1989 by Stephen Defelice, and it is defined as “any substance that is a food or a part of the food and provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease”.1 These nutraceuticals including the isolated nutrients, dietary supplements (minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and herbs), specific diets to genetically engineered designer foods, and phytochemicals (flavonoids, phytosterols, polyphenols, tannins) promised to have beneficial health effects besides the traditional nutrition values found in food. There is a significant association between the dietary habit and the determination of chronic diseases such as cataract, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, gallstones, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s/Parkinson’s/Huntington’s disease), obesity, and several types of cancers.2,3 So, the nutraceuticals have been used to improve health and increase the life expectancy, delay the aging process and prevent chronic diseases, or support the structure and/or function of the body. The major benefits of nutraceuticals over pharmaceuticals include lesser or no adverse effects, economically affordable, easily available, multiple therapeutic effects, and increase the health value by improving medical condition of humans. Recently, the nutraceuticals have received substantial attention due to their potential nutritional values, safety, and therapeutic effects. Accordingly, the recent analysis by BCC research proposed that the global nutraceutical market is expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%, would reach US $285.0 billion by 2021 from US $198.7 billion in 2016.4 This short review highlights the emerging scope of nutraceuticals as alternative medications for the health management and treatment of several chronic diseases.