“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates
In the last decade, nutraceuticals have entered the healthcare market as an easy and attractive means for preventing diseases. Nutraceuticals is a broad umbrella term that is used to describe any product derived from food sources with extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods. It is one of the fastest growing trends worldwide. Todays generation is inclined to spend on health and wellness solutions and are aligned to not only looking good but feeling good as well. Increasing health concerns and consciousness about leading a healthy and longer life are the primary factors fuelling the growth of the global nutraceuticals market. Other influencers include consumers’ desire to deny complete dependence on synthetically formed drugs and availability of a myriad products suitable for each specific condition.
Over the years, nutraceuticals have attracted considerable interest due to their potential nutritional, safety and therapeutic effects. Nutraceuticals, including dietary supplements and functional foods, are a $152 billion world market, with a projected growth forecast of 50% in the next 5 years. The percentage of those aged 65 years and older using nutraceutical products is higher than for any other age group. Aging is associated with decreased immunity, increased morbidity and mortality resulting from infectious agents, and poor nutritional status. Some nutraceutical products recommend that they can improve micronutrient status. This suggests that the regular use of nutraceuticals by the elderly population may provide an opportunity to enhance immunity in this at-risk population. Nutraceuticals also claim to improve health, prevent chronic diseases, postpone the aging process (and in turn increase life expectancy), or just support functions and integrity of the body. They are considered to be healthy sources for prevention of life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, renal and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as different infections. A wide range of nutraceuticals have been shown to impose crucial roles in immune status and susceptibility to certain disease states. They also exhibit diseases modifying indications related to oxidative stress including allergies, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, eye conditions, Parkinson’s diseases and obesity.
Nutraceuticals are broadly categorised into 3 categories.
The fastest emerging trend among nutraceutical is in the cosmetics space. They promote a concept of “beauty from within.” This is the idea that what we ingest can have a direct bearing on our physical appearance. Aptly named nutricosmetics, supplement companies are offering products that contain vitamins and minerals to support physical appearance. Perhaps the best-known example of this is collagen, which has long been a supplement meant to improve the appearance of skin, hair and nails. Another reason is that there’s a huge opportunity in the generation that’s moving into this market.
While developing effective nutraceuticals for seniors is a challenging yet the most active section of the nutraceuticals market. Results from human clinical trials evaluating the benefits of nutraceuticals to support health in the elderly have been largely inconsistent. This may be because the number of trials carried out on people more than 65 years old is very limited.
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