The quality of commercially available nutraceutical supplements and food sources

Abstract

Objectives Nutraceuticals are components of dietary origin, with claimed beneficial therapeutic activities. The quality of nutraceuticals is paramount for efficacy and safety, and it includes quality of raw materials, different available chemical forms, complex products, lack of substitution of inappropriate materials, and the absence of contaminants. The aim of this review is to investigate the extent of substandard formulated and raw material nutraceuticals, and to highlight any consequent health concern. Key findings Reports of the quality of raw materials have revealed wide variations, often as a result of lack of clear regulatory definitions with respect to size of polymeric entities and also presence of glycosidic and salt forms. Published evaluations of over 70 formulations of 25 different nutraceuticals revealed variable quality; no nutraceutical showed consistent high quality, but a number revealed consistent low quality, thereby making the case for closer regulation of manufacturers. Whole food sources have also been shown to be widely variable in constituent levels. The effect of different formulations requires consideration, as the different types have been shown to have marked effects on bioavailability. Summary The poor quality of commercially available nutraceuticals has been highlighted. In addition, incidences of side effects and drug interactions are increasing, as consumption of nutraceuticals rises. Pharmacists and health practitioners need to be aware of the scientific literature to advise accordingly.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Vitamin Eδ-Tocotrienol in Collagen-Induced Rat Model of Arthritis

“…With a reported market value of US$ 75 billion, this industry is becoming progressively popular, partly due to the public's perception that “natural is better” [6]. Joining a long list of nutraceuticals are the tocotrienols, a constituent of vitamin E found in palm oil as a phytonutrient [7].…”

Correlation of In Vivo and In Vitro Assay Results for Assessment of Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Green Tea Nutraceuticals

“…In literature, determination of the TPC and to lesser extent FRSA have been reported for evaluation of the quality of nutraceuticals containing polyphenolic compounds (Bernal and others ). However, in depth assessment of the stability of nutraceuticals containing polyphenolic products has not been thoroughly explored (Scalia and others ; Abd‐ElSalam and others ) and very few reports investigated the significance of product quality on biological activity and safety (Lockwood ).…”

“…With all these beneficial effects, requirements for registration of GT nutraceutical products are not as demanding as those of pharmaceuticals (Bernal and others ) that lead to the presence of substandard nutraceuticals in the market. Taking in consideration that consumption of nutraceuticals is not regulated by a physician and is a lifelong habit for many of us and the complex nature of nutraceutical preparations, it has been recommended that the quality and stability of such products should be investigated carefully (Lockwood ; Abd‐ElSalam and others ).…”

“…Authors Al-Shorbagy andNassar are with Pharmacology andToxicology Dept., Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo Univ., Egypt. Direct inquiries to author Al-Ghobashy (E-mail: medhat.alghobashy@cu.edu.eg). is not regulated by a physician and is a lifelong habit for many of us and the complex nature of nutraceutical preparations, it has been recommended that the quality and stability of such products should be investigated carefully (Lockwood 2011;Abd-ElSalam and others 2014).…”

Plant Based Natural Products and Breast Cancer: Considering Multi-Faceted Disease Aspects, Past Successes, and Promising Future Interventions

“…For instance, a survey carried out in the Eastern Washington Region of U.S.A. tested 13 products (7 tablet and 6 capsule formulations) by HPLC and showed that only 4 of the 13 products contained the minimum of 90% isoflavone content claimed on the label and variations in composition over time were noted [392]. Interestingly, a recent review shows that overall, most commercially available nutraceuticals are poor in quality [393].…”