Abstract

NUTRACEUTICALS: EMERGING CONCEPTS AND PROSPECTS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION.

Kriti Sethi*, Nayyar Parvez, Vikram Sharma and Pramod Kumar Sharma

Abstract

Consumers are deeply concerned about how their healthcare is managed, administered and priced. They are frustrated with the expensive, high-tech disease treatment approach predominantly in modern medicine. Positioned at the interface between food and drugs, a growing body of products is assuming importance i.e nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals are food or part of food that provides medical or health benefits including the prevention and/or treatment of a disease. Nutraceuticals have an advantage over the medicine because they have fewer side effects and are a dietary supplement, etc. Nutraceutical products represent a value-added growth opportunity in both domestically and internationally. Global nutraceutical market is estimated as USD 117 billion. FDA regulated dietary supplements as foods to ensure that they are safe. Herbal nutraceutical is used as a powerful instrument in maintaining health and to act against nutritionally induced acute and chronic diseases, thereby promoting optimal health, longevity and quality of life. This article briefly discusses the basic information of nutraceuticals and its importance in cardiovascular health prevention.

Keywords: Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, Dietary Supplement, Green tea, Marketed Nutraceuticals.