Abstract

NEUTRACEUTICALS AND HEALTH

Gharat K. B.*, Bokade A. S., Kasekar N. M. and Kadam V. J.

Abstract

The term neutraceuticals means NUTRITIVE+PHARMACEUTICAL. Neutraceutical is regarded as the bio active substance and the constituents are either of known therapeutic activity or are chemically defined substance generally accepted to contribute substantially to the therapeutic activity of the drug. Drugs show various side effects and adverse effects due to which consumers generally move to take food supplement to improve the health. This results in a worldwide neutraceuticalsrevolution. Neutraceuticals on the basis of their natural source, chemical groups categories into key terms -nutrients, herbals, dietary supplements, dietary fiber etc. The most rapidly growing segments of the industry were dietary supplements (19.5 percent per year) and natural/herbal products (11.6 percent per year). Global neutraceutical market is estimated as USD 117 billion. In 2006 the Indian government passed Food Safety and Standard Act to regulate the neutraceutical industry. The principle reasons for the growth of the neutraceutical market worldwide are the current population and the health. The neutraceutical revolution will lead us into a new era of medicine and health, in which the food industry will become a research oriented one similar to the pharmaceutical industry. Neutraceutical market is seeing tidal growth mainly in United States, India and European countries. In contrast, a small number of these products have the potential to produce significant toxicity.

Keywords: Neutraceutical, Nutrition, Dietarysupplement, Globalmarket, Revolution.