Nutraceuticals: What are they?

Key points of nutraceuticals:

• A nutraceutical product refers to a food or part of a food that provides beneficial effects on health.
• Nutraceuticals are intended to have a positive influence on maintaining good health and preventing disease. The goal is not to repair problems but to anticipate them in order to address them directly at their source.
• It is very difficult to judge the effectiveness or quality of a formulation by its coverage, so pay attention and don't hesitate to ask healthcare professionals for information!

Dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, medications, herbal medicine... what are the differences?

It's all a matter of spectrum… At one end, we have food supplements. These are prepared products intended to be taken in addition to food, to address certain deficiencies. They contain nutrients or other bioactive compounds useful to humans (vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, etc.) to improve their well-being (1).

Did you know? 1 in 2 French people have already consumed food supplements, and more than 90% consume them to maintain their health.

At the other extreme, we have pharmaceutical products, or medicines. These are products that treat, prevent, or cure a disease, help establish a diagnosis, or modify a bodily function. They rely on powerful active ingredients and are subject to very strict regulations (2).
And what about nutraceuticals in all of this?
The term "nutraceutical" was coined by Stephen DeFelice in 1989 to designate "a food or part of a food that provides health benefits." Nutraceuticals thus take the concept of a dietary supplement a step further… beyond simply addressing the body's general well-being, they aim for a positive effect on maintaining its proper functioning, particularly in the face of the risk of disease (3).

Nutraceuticals: why and for whom?

Nutraceuticals are therefore intended to have a positive influence on maintaining good health and preventing disease. The goal is not to repair problems but to anticipate them in order to address them directly at their source.
This is an increasingly important and relevant objective given that changes in eating habits and increased life expectancy make us more vulnerable to certain chronic diseases linked to our environment, or degenerative diseases linked to age.
In fact, nutraceuticals are products combining plants, foods, trace elements, minerals and molecules of natural origin in a form intended to be taken as a supplement to our basic diet (capsule, powder, softgel).

It is very difficult to judge the effectiveness or quality of a formulation based on its label. Products are generally developed by pharmacists and specialists to maximize product synergies.

Who regulates the nutraceutical industry?

Europe defines the regulatory framework for food supplements. These directives are then transposed into French law. The regulations applicable to food supplements include texts relating to agricultural raw materials, texts relating to foodstuffs and texts specific to food supplements ( European Directive 2002/42/EC and its transposition into French law by Decree No. 2006-352 ) (4).

These texts govern not only the product itself but also its packaging and the nutritional and health claims associated with it.
In the case of organic products, the specific regulations governing organic products apply. Before being placed on the market in France, products must be registered with the DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control), which is responsible for verifying the product's compliance with current legislation. The DGCCRF can also conduct inspections of products on the market at any time to verify their compliance.
Finally, there are trade unions in the field of food supplements (e.g., Synadiet ) which aim to guarantee a certain regulation of the sector beyond official texts in terms of quality, safety and sustainability of products, to defend the interests of companies in the field but also those of consumers (5).

How can you judge the quality of a nutraceutical product without being an expert in plants or the different ingredients (or how to choose your food supplement wisely)?

We won't lie to you, it's very difficult to judge the effectiveness or quality of a formulation based on its coverage. Products are generally developed by pharmacists and specialists to maximize product synergies and benefits. As a consumer, however, several criteria can indicate the seriousness and rigor of a nutraceutical laboratory's approach:
• Origin of ingredients
• Quality and labels of ingredients (organic, etc.)
• Types of additives in the formula
• Transparency of information
• …

If in doubt, talk to your doctor, he/she will be able to advise you.

What are the steps involved in designing a nutraceutical product?

There are several essential steps in the development of a nutraceutical. The first and one of the most crucial is formulation. This is when the objectives of the formula are defined and the best active ingredients and combinations are sought to achieve those objectives.

To ensure the most scientific and rigorous approach possible, we rely on scientific literature and are assisted by physicians, pharmacists, and scientists. While some active ingredients have a "traditional" use, we strive for the highest level of scientific evidence and select, whenever possible, active ingredients and dosages that have been validated in clinical studies and meta-analyses.
Once the list of ingredients is finalized and the dosages determined, the best possible dosage form (capsule, powder, aqueous suspension, etc.) must be chosen, in accordance with the manufacturing constraints.
Once our products are correctly formulated and the appropriate ingredients sourced, our ingredients and formulas are passed on to our manufacturing partners who have the industrial tools enabling us to produce our products in compliance with good manufacturing practices.

The final word

It can sometimes be difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to nutraceuticals and to find clear information to better understand and therefore consume them more wisely. So we hope you enjoyed this short FAQ, and that nutraceuticals now hold no more secrets for you!

The range Phytocea The nutraceuticals developed by our experts can be found HERE .

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