Our nutraceutical blog, active ingredients and ingredients: the why and how!
Nutraceuticals: Everything you need to know about dietary supplements to make the best choice
Article updated on 11/07/2022
Why this blog about nutraceuticals?
At Phytoce , we design and distribute nutraceuticals. We create French products with exclusive formulas that we believe in.
We are committed to doing things as well as possible, with maximum transparency. That's why we don't use private label products, why we prioritize ingredients sourced from France (even if it's not always possible), and why we use organically grown active ingredients whenever possible.
Because it is difficult to find your way in the jungle of food supplements, nutraceuticals or ingredients, we wanted to popularize our knowledge, our choices, the whys and wherefores, the contraindications, etc.
This blog is not intended to be exhaustive; it is here to help the consumer understand what they are buying and why.
Under no circumstances does this blog replace the advice of a healthcare professional; quite the opposite, in fact: if what you read raises questions, seek advice from a professional before consuming a product containing a particular ingredient.
What are dietary supplements?
These are products containing nutrients or plants that supplement our diet and are available in powder, capsule, stick, tablet, liquid (in ampoules, for example), and even gummies form. Their primary purpose is to meet the body's needs by addressing nutritional deficiencies sometimes observed in the population. However, they also offer other benefits depending on the nutrients or plants used. Depending on their composition, they provide different active ingredients with varying benefits and can sometimes help alleviate certain illnesses.
Alongside, or rather as a complement to, the term "dietary supplement," the term "nutraceutical" has developed. It refers to "functional foods" or "health foods" and lies at the intersection of nutrition and herbal medicine.
For more information on the terms nutraceutical and phytotherapy, you can consult the two respective articles that deal with these subjects: HERE and HERE .
How is the world of dietary supplements regulated and controlled?
European Directive ( Directive 2002/46/EC ) and French Directive ( Decree No. 2006-352 of 20 March 2006 ) regulate food supplements and define them as "foodstuffs whose purpose is to supplement a normal diet and which constitute a concentrated source of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect." These directives impose the same rules on food supplements as those applied to food, but not on medicines.
In France, food supplements have the status of specific foodstuffs and can therefore be marketed in and outside of pharmacies.
Food supplements are examined by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), which is part of the Ministry of Economy.
The DGCCRF ensures, on the basis of scientific data, that no ingredient constituting the supplement examined is likely to endanger the health of the consumer.
Advice is regularly issued by health authorities when adverse effects occur.
What is found in dietary supplements? What ingredients are permitted?
Dietary supplements are primarily made up of ingredients that have a physiological effect.
One of the major differences between food and dietary supplements is the absence of a food matrix. This means that supplements do not possess the complex structure of whole foods, which impacts bioavailability (for better or for worse), and also deprives them of other elements that constitute the matrix (fiber, for example). This is one of the reasons why a dietary supplement can complement a diet, but cannot replace a healthy and balanced diet.
It is unrealistic to try to replace a normal and complete diet with capsules! On the other hand, in the case of malabsorption, temporary deficiencies (e.g., vitamin D), or diets likely to cause deficiencies (e.g., vegan diet), the food supplement then becomes very useful.
A second benefit is the specific intake of nutrients that are consumed in small quantities, but which scientific studies have shown to have beneficial effects when increased and regular (e.g., carotenoid pigments for the retina).
The ingredients and substances found in food supplements are regulated by law.
Article 4 of Decree No. 2006-352 of 20 March 2006 relating to food supplements stipulates that "only the following may be used in the manufacture of food supplements:
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Nutrients and substances for nutritional or physiological purposes as defined in points 2 and 3 of Article 2, under the conditions provided for in Articles 5 and 6
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The plants and plant preparations defined in point 4 of Article 2 under the conditions provided for in Article 7
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Other ingredients whose use in human food is traditional or recognized as such within the meaning of the aforementioned Regulation of 27 January 1997, or authorized in accordance with that Regulation (called "Novel Food")
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Additives, flavorings and processing aids whose use is authorized in human food under the conditions provided for by the aforementioned decrees of September 18, 1989, April 11, 1991 and July 31, 2001.
Based on the aforementioned decree, two orders were issued:
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Order of 9 May 2006, as amended, relating to nutrients that may be used in the manufacture of food supplements
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Order of 24 June 2014 establishing the list of plants, other than fungi, authorized in food supplements and the conditions of their use
The lists of ingredients authorized in other European countries can be used in food supplements, unless the local authorities (DGCCRF) consider that these ingredients endanger the health of the consumer.
Vitamins, trace elements, and health claims of dietary supplements
The use of minerals, trace elements and vitamins is authorized by the European Union.
Criteria for purity, dosage, form, and quantity have been defined, and food supplements are required to comply with them.
In addition, maximum doses have been established; these constitute safety limits that should not be exceeded in the case of daily intake.
Which vitamins are permitted in food supplements?
Here is the list of vitamins permitted in food supplements. For each vitamin we use, we have created a summary sheet providing key information: name, aliases, forms, where to find it, recommended amounts, uses, etc. These sheets can be accessed by clicking on the name of the vitamin in question.
A general article on vitamins is also available in the " Nutrition " section.
What minerals are permitted in food supplements?
Here is the list of minerals permitted in food supplements. For each mineral we use, we have prepared a summary sheet providing key information: name, aliases, forms, where to find it, recommended amounts, uses, etc. These sheets can be accessed by clicking on the name of the mineral of interest.
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Calcium
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Chloride
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Chromium
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Copper
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Iron
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Fluorine
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Iodine
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Manganese
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Molybdenum
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Phosphorus
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Potassium
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Sodium
Which plants are permitted in food supplements?
The use of plants in food supplements is regulated.
These plants must possess effects that prevent them from being classified as therapeutic plants . Medicinal plants no longer fall under the category of "food supplements," but rather under the category of "medicine."
Therefore, in order to be authorized, plants must meet certain criteria:
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or be among the plants whose sale is authorized without restriction
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or be traditionally used in the diet of at least one of the countries of the European Union
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or benefit from European authorization as a "novel food"
It should be noted that many herbal products are administratively classified as food supplements even though the plants they contain possess therapeutic properties.
What other active ingredients are permitted in dietary supplements?
Other substances can be used in dietary supplements. These include:
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amino acids
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proteins
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fatty acids such as omega-3
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enzymes
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hormones
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specific sugars, such as fructo-oligosaccharides
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or other types of substances
The use of these substances must be submitted to the DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control), which may refuse their use if it presents a real danger to consumer health. After 12 months, the compound is added to the list of authorized ingredients.
What are the active ingredients, plants and other compounds used in Phytocea's nutraceutical food supplements?
As with vitamins and minerals, for each plant, plant extract, or active ingredient other than a vitamin or trace element that we use, we have prepared a summary sheet providing key information: name, aliases, forms, interactions, precautions, contraindications, purpose, scientific literature, etc. These sheets can be accessed by clicking on the name of the active ingredient of interest.
What is a health claim?
ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) provides the following definitions for nutritional claims and health claims:
" A claim is a message, appearing on certain food packaging or accompanying the product, which states the health and/or nutritional properties of the food or its components.
From a regulatory point of view:
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A claim is said to be nutritional when it refers to the content of a nutrient in a food. For example, it might state "rich in calcium" or "represents 30% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C";
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A claim is considered a health claim when it highlights a link between a nutrient or food and a state of health. A health claim may assert the reduction of a risk factor (e.g., "omega-3 fatty acids reduce cardiovascular risks") or the reduction of a disease risk, but it cannot include a therapeutic claim indicating that a particular nutrient prevents or cures a disease (e.g., "calcium prevents osteoporosis").
Health claims are regulated by European Regulation 1924/2006 . Authorized claims are listed in a European register. Most concern vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Claims are authorized if they meet the application criteria (authorized or not, pending, minimum dose, safety limits).
As an example, here are the permitted claims for products containing vitamin A :
Products containing vitamin A may claim to contribute to:
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normal energy metabolism
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to maintain normal skin and mucous membranes
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to normal vision
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to the normal functioning of the immune system
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to cellular specialization
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to normal iron metabolism
Only if these products contain at least 120 micrograms (µg) of vitamin A (retinol) per 100 g, 100 ml, or per package if the product contains only one serving. Foods and food supplements containing vitamin A may NOT claim to:
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to be essential for bone health
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to be essential for dental health
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to be essential to hair health
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to be essential for the health of nails or skin
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maintain vitality and energy
These claims of effect are now prohibited for foods and food supplements containing vitamin A.
The pending allegations
The countries of the European Union have submitted thousands of applications for health claims. Some have been approved, others rejected, and some (especially those concerning plants) are pending. The validation process is lengthy and complex. While awaiting acceptance or rejection, pending claims, as recorded in the European register, can be used, provided they meet the application criteria, at the discretion of the manufacturers, who must be able to demonstrate compliance with the claim. To do so, food supplement manufacturers must maintain a scientific dossier that, in their opinion, proves the veracity of the claims.
Traditional uses
Some plants or substances whose use has been long established are considered as plants of traditional use and recognized as such by health authorities ( WHO , Commission E , ESCOP , EMA , IESV ).
What precautions should be taken with dietary supplements?
Taking dietary supplements has become a daily, almost innocuous act for many. It is common to think that dietary supplements can compensate for an unbalanced, deficient diet, etc.
This notion needs to be qualified. Supplements are intended to complement a "healthy" diet, a varied, balanced, and appropriate diet. Under no circumstances can supplements replace a good diet. However, in certain cases, they are genuinely beneficial:
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supplement vitamin D intake
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to provide an adequate intake of vitamins such as vitamin B12 for vegetarians or vegans who have insufficient intake
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to provide vitamin B9 in anticipation of and during pregnancy
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supplement your omega-3 intake
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to address nutritional deficiencies or insufficiencies
These are purely nutritional cases, but dietary supplements are also used to prevent illnesses, slow aging, and alleviate pain. Indeed, supplements can contain a wide variety of active ingredients, not just vitamins. These include antioxidants, medicinal plants, concentrated active ingredients, and ingredients modified to enhance certain properties, among others.
The risks associated with consuming dietary supplements
Dietary supplements are sources of vitamins and various active ingredients, thanks to their plant-based formulas. They can address nutrient deficiencies and may also have antioxidant, pain-relieving, or anti-inflammatory effects. This is not insignificant. The use of molecules with these types of effects must be approached thoughtfully and with full awareness. Not everything that is natural is necessarily good, and dietary supplements are no exception. Too often, side effects and interactions are overlooked, but they must be carefully considered. A recent example is turmeric, a star ingredient in supplements, available in capsule form. This ingredient has undergone numerous technological innovations in recent years to increase the bioavailability of its active ingredients. This has led to an increase in side effects from these active ingredients; an opinion from ANSES (the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) has just been published on this subject, and we have dedicated an article to it .
If in doubt when taking a food supplement, you should consult a healthcare professional to check for any interactions or adverse effects that may occur.
Conclusion
This introduces the concept of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals . We hope we have provided you with some information to help you make your choices.
In accordance with our values, we will document the next assets we use, always with this objective of transparency.
If you would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact us. 👋