What is the Difference Between Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The terms dietary supplements and nutraceuticals are often used interchangeably, but they have some differences. Here are the main distinctions between the two:
- Origin: Nutraceuticals are made from food or part of a food, while dietary supplements are single substances used alone or in mixtures with the scope of adding micronutrients when the body is in need of them.
- Form: Nutraceuticals are typically consumed in the form of food, herbal, or extract forms to treat diseases and disorders, while dietary supplements are generally consumed in the form of pills and contain singular components.
- Regulation: The FDA regulates both dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, but they do not provide separate definitions or regulatory acts for the latter two, only for the supplements.
In summary, dietary supplements are consumed to supplement the diet and enhance health, while nutraceuticals are substances that have both therapeutic and nutrient effects and are derived from food sources. Both serve to improve the health and wellness of individuals, but they differ in their sources, forms, and regulations.
Comparative Table: Dietary Supplements vs Nutraceuticals
The main difference between dietary supplements and nutraceuticals lies in their source and composition. Here is a table comparing the two:
| Dietary Supplements | Nutraceuticals |
|---|---|
| These are isolated substances that are chemically identical to those found in food. | These are substances that have both therapeutic and nutrient effects, isolated from whole foods. |
| Composed of individual vitamins, minerals, herbs, or botanicals. | Composed of whole foods or food extracts that provide health benefits. |
| Sold in forms not usually associated with food, such as tablets, capsules, and liquid. | Can come in various forms, including tablets, capsules, powders, energy bars, drinks, and more. |
| Not considered conventional foods that can form a balanced diet on their own. | Provide health benefits beyond traditional nutrients and can be considered functional foods. |
| Regulated by the FDA as foods. | Functional foods are not subject to separate FDA regulations but are included under the dietary supplements umbrella. |
Both dietary supplements and nutraceuticals aim to improve health by filling nutritional gaps in the diet, but they differ in their composition and source. Dietary supplements are composed of isolated substances, while nutraceuticals are derived from whole foods or food extracts.
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