Demystifying ‘nutraceuticals’ for docs
Industry Buzz
You might view these as ‘conditional’—based on the needs of the person—rather than staples such as a multivitamin/mineral, vitamin D3, and fish oil.
—Richard Bloomer, PhD
Is your patient interested in nutraceuticals?
Here’s everything you need to know about them, where they sit in the supplement space, and how to guide your patients.
“‘Nutraceutical’ is a term coined by Dr. Stephen DeFelice. When you isolate and intensify—based on dose—certain bioactive nutrients from foods, they may have benefits above and beyond basic nutritional function (calories, protein, carbs, [and] fat). They may have effects [that] can be medicinal (eg, lower blood sugar [and] lower blood pressure),” Richard J. Bloomer, PhD, director of the Center for Nutraceutical and Dietary Supplement Research at the University of Memphis, tells MDLinx.
Benefits of nutraceuticals
Interest in nutraceuticals is growing, and research suggests they may offer some benefits for certain patient populations.[] These include those with cardiovascular disease, those undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and those with prostate cancer.
Neutraceuticals may also help improve various health markers.
“Examples are things like beetroot for blood pressure reduction, turmeric for lowering inflammation, cinnamon extract for lowering blood sugar, [and] lutein [and] zeaxanthin for improving eye health,” Dr. Bloomer says.
However, there is limited evidence comparing nutraceuticals to pharmaceutical options, and experts note that other interventions may be more beneficial for improving things such as cardiometabolic health.
“These are not pharmaceuticals but [are] viewed as dietary supplements under [the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act]. There are few head-to-head comparison studies, so it’s difficult to say. Lifestyle adjustments, including the use of nutraceuticals, would be a wise first-line defense against combating health ailments such as obesity, diabetes, [and] hypertension. This is the best approach,” Dr. Bloomer says.
“They are typically specialty products and not standard products like [typical] vitamins and minerals. You might view these as ‘conditional’—based on the needs of the person—rather than staples such as a multivitamin/mineral, vitamin D3, and fish oil,” he adds.
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Nutraceuticals do not require a prescription, and patients may choose to purchase them without their physician’s involvement.
When working with patients who may be interested in incorporating nutraceuticals into their healthcare plans, Dr. Bloomer says it is best for physicians to provide guidance and talking points to their patients.
“Know what you are using and why,” he says. Do research on the company and product. Make sure the dosage used matches what was used in the clinical studies. (This is often not the case, as the correct dosage may be too expensive for companies to market.)”
“Many nutrients can be helpful; check PubMed for details. Make sure to pay attention to the label for dosing and match [the] daily dose with what was shown to be effective in studies. Be consistent with product use for about 2 months. If [there is] no benefit, it may not work for you. Like medications, not everyone will respond the same way to treatment,” Dr. Bloomer adds.
He notes that physicians should first counsel patients to make other lifestyle adjustments before incorporating a nutraceutical.
“Lifestyle adjustments should be first [a] nutrient-dense diet, regular physical activity, structured exercise, [and] quality sleep. Then, people can consider nutraceuticals to complement these things.”