What Are Nutraceuticals?
A nutraceutical is defined as a substance — a food or part of a food — that, in addition to its normal nutritional value, provides health benefits including the prevention of disease or promotion of health.
Nutraceuticals are used to:
- Improve overall health
- Delay the aging process
- Prevent chronic diseases
- Increase life expectancy
- Support the structure or function of the body
The major disease areas where nutraceuticals have been studied and applied include heart disease, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are among the most important nutraceutical compounds. They include Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and beta-carotene, and are found naturally in fixed oils, fruits, vegetables, and fish.
How they work: Antioxidant compounds either prevent the formation of oxygen free radicals or trap them through a scavenging effect. The body’s own defence system against oxidative damage includes enzymes such as:
- Superoxide dismutases
- Glutathione peroxidase
- Catalase
Along with reducing agents such as glutathione and ascorbate.
In general, antioxidants retard or prevent oxidation and prolong the life of oxidisable matter.
Therapeutic applications:
- Treatment of stroke
- Antioxidant therapy in cancer
- Protection against heart disease, anxiety, and depression
Probiotics
Probiotics are living microorganisms which, when consumed with or without food, improve the intestinal microbial balance and enhance the functioning of the large intestine. They work by producing substances and conditions that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
Common probiotic organisms include Bifidobacterium species and Lactobacilli species such as L. acidophilus.
Therapeutic applications:
- Diarrhoea
- Colon cancer
- Allergy
- Cardiovascular disease
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are nutraceuticals that promote the growth and activity of probiotics. Since probiotic microorganisms must survive the digestive enzymes and acids of the upper gut before reaching the colon, prebiotics are designed to assist this process.
Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that reach the colon intact — without being broken down by gastric pH or digestive acids — and selectively stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the colon, thereby improving host health.
Therapeutic applications:
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) — a chronic, multifactorial disorder causing severe watery and bloody diarrhoea with abdominal pain
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Helicobacter pylori infection
Dietary Fibres
Dietary fibres are non-digestible polysaccharides found in plant cell walls. They are present in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.
Types of Dietary Fibre
1. Soluble Dietary Fibres — Partially soluble in water; form a gel during digestion. 2. Insoluble Dietary Fibres — Insoluble in water; pass through the digestive tract largely intact.
| Soluble Dietary Fibres | Insoluble Dietary Fibres |
|---|---|
| Oatmeal | Whole wheat |
| Nuts | Carrots |
| Seeds | Cucumbers |
| Apples | Barley |
| Pears | Brown rice |
Recommended daily intake:
- Adults — 30 g/day
- Children — 5 g/day
Therapeutic applications: Dietary fibre has important therapeutic effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Several common disorders are associated with a low intake of dietary fibre, including those related to fat intake and low physical activity.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Biological sources:
- Cold water fish — cod, salmon, tuna, sardines, bluefish, mackerel, and herring
- Cold weather bean-oil plants — flaxseed, canola, walnuts, soybean, and freshly ground wheat germ
Therapeutic applications: Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial due to several important activities:
- Suppression of smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration
- Reduction of LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels
- Decrease in hypercholesterolaemia and triglyceridaemia
- Increase in HDL (good cholesterol) levels
Spirulina
Family: Oscillatoriaceae Biological Source: Spirulina is a blue-green algae — Spirulina platensis or Spirulina maxima — a microscopic plant that grows in fresh water in planktonic form.
Spirulina is a concentrated source of food containing nutraceuticals — it is rich in antioxidants, probiotics, and phytonutrients.
Biological roles:
- Has immunostimulant activity — stimulates the production and activity of bone marrow stem cells, macrophages, and T-cells
- Enhances the function of the spleen and thymus gland
- In-vitro studies indicate it enhances cell nucleus enzyme activity and DNA repair, suggesting a possible role in cancer treatment
Additional benefits:
- Fast growth rate — Spirulina can be cultivated even in wastewater, helping to address water pollution
- Grows well in sewage water, making it ideal for biodegradation purposes
Soya (Soybean)
Family: Leguminosae Biological Source: Fully matured dried seeds of Glycine soja and Glycine max.
Biological roles:
- Contains a low proportion of saturated fat
- One of the rare plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids
- Contains no cholesterol and actively helps lower blood cholesterol levels
Therapeutic applications:
- High in dietary fibre — essential for total body functioning and a vital role in the digestive system
- Contains isoflavones in abundance — important for the female reproductive system, particularly during menopause when estrogen levels drop significantly
- Good source of healthy unsaturated fats (2 g MUFA and 5.06 g PUFA) — helps lower cholesterol
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Family: Liliaceae
Garlic has been associated with human food and medicine since ancient times. It is grown and used in all temperate climatic regions of the world. It contains carbohydrates, protein, and high amounts of phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.
Therapeutic applications:
- Lipid-lowering effect — reduces serum lipid levels by:
- Inhibiting lipogenesis (fat formation)
- Enhancing the breakdown and excretion of lipids
- Antibiotic activity — active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. faecalis
- Antiparasitic — useful in the treatment of amoebic dysentery, tapeworm, and hookworm infections.
D.Pharma 1st Year — All Subjects Notes
D.Pharma 2nd Year — All Subjects Notes