Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals

A nutraceutical is a food or food component that claims to have health benefits, including treatment and prevention of disease. In 1989, Stephen DeFelice, M.D., derived the term “nutraceutical” from “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical.” It’s used as a marketing term. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM are popular dietary supplements that are touted as beneficial for joint health.As defined by Congress in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which became law in 1994, a dietary supplement is a product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet; contains one or more dietary ingredients (vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, and other substances); is intended to be taken orally, and is labelled on the front panel as being a dietary supplement.