Chapter 16 Toxicity and safety of nutraceuticals
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Paula Barciela
Abstract
Currently, consumers are more conscious about the importance of having a good diet and lifestyle; so the demand for products with potential health benefits has increased. Nutraceuticals can be classified according to different criteria. Based on their chemical structure, they can be divided into phenolic compounds, fatty acids and structural lipids, carbohydrates and amino-acids derivatives, minerals, and terpenoids derivatives. All these compounds are linked to different health benefits, such as antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity, prevention of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, or health bones maintenance. However, the potential positive impact of these compounds when incorporated in the human body is limited because of their bioavailability, which is mainly affected because of the hydrophobic properties of these compounds. In this way, different delivery systems were developed as suitable pathways for the bioavailability improvement of nutraceuticals. The most successful delivery systems to incorporate nutraceuticals include micro and nanoemulsions, micelles, nanoparticles, hydrogels, and solid-lipid nanoparticles. They achieved several improvements such as higher bioavailability, bioactivity maintenance, shelf-life improvement, or incorporation of the nutraceutical in a target system/organ. In this way, and considering the increasing demand for these products, the development of regulation is needed so that consumers’ safety is assured, although any country has developed it yet. Thus, considering the increasing demand for these compounds, the aim of this study was to compile the available current data of nutraceuticals and also their safety concerns.
Abstract
Currently, consumers are more conscious about the importance of having a good diet and lifestyle; so the demand for products with potential health benefits has increased. Nutraceuticals can be classified according to different criteria. Based on their chemical structure, they can be divided into phenolic compounds, fatty acids and structural lipids, carbohydrates and amino-acids derivatives, minerals, and terpenoids derivatives. All these compounds are linked to different health benefits, such as antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity, prevention of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, or health bones maintenance. However, the potential positive impact of these compounds when incorporated in the human body is limited because of their bioavailability, which is mainly affected because of the hydrophobic properties of these compounds. In this way, different delivery systems were developed as suitable pathways for the bioavailability improvement of nutraceuticals. The most successful delivery systems to incorporate nutraceuticals include micro and nanoemulsions, micelles, nanoparticles, hydrogels, and solid-lipid nanoparticles. They achieved several improvements such as higher bioavailability, bioactivity maintenance, shelf-life improvement, or incorporation of the nutraceutical in a target system/organ. In this way, and considering the increasing demand for these products, the development of regulation is needed so that consumers’ safety is assured, although any country has developed it yet. Thus, considering the increasing demand for these compounds, the aim of this study was to compile the available current data of nutraceuticals and also their safety concerns.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- About the editors XI
- Chapter 1 Nutraceuticals and food supplements: basic concepts and regulatory aspects 1
- Chapter 2 Nutraceutical properties of bioactive peptides 17
- Chapter 3 Nutraceutical properties of dietary lipids 43
- Chapter 4 Biological importance of vitamins and minerals 63
- Chapter 5 Clinical significance of herb–drug interactions 103
- Chapter 6 Nutraceuticals and oxidative stress 125
- Chapter 7 Nutraceuticals and inflammation 145
- Chapter 8 Metabolic disorders 167
- Chapter 9 Multiple gastrointestinal tract disorders 193
- Chapter 10 Bone health 223
- Chapter 11 Medicinal plants and alternative therapies for reproductive system health 237
- Chapter 12 Infectious disorders 267
- Chapter 13 Medicinal plants for urinary tract problems 293
- Chapter 14 Ocular health 315
- Chapter 15 Medicinal plants and pregnancy sickness 333
- Chapter 16 Toxicity and safety of nutraceuticals 345
- Index 365
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- About the editors XI
- Chapter 1 Nutraceuticals and food supplements: basic concepts and regulatory aspects 1
- Chapter 2 Nutraceutical properties of bioactive peptides 17
- Chapter 3 Nutraceutical properties of dietary lipids 43
- Chapter 4 Biological importance of vitamins and minerals 63
- Chapter 5 Clinical significance of herb–drug interactions 103
- Chapter 6 Nutraceuticals and oxidative stress 125
- Chapter 7 Nutraceuticals and inflammation 145
- Chapter 8 Metabolic disorders 167
- Chapter 9 Multiple gastrointestinal tract disorders 193
- Chapter 10 Bone health 223
- Chapter 11 Medicinal plants and alternative therapies for reproductive system health 237
- Chapter 12 Infectious disorders 267
- Chapter 13 Medicinal plants for urinary tract problems 293
- Chapter 14 Ocular health 315
- Chapter 15 Medicinal plants and pregnancy sickness 333
- Chapter 16 Toxicity and safety of nutraceuticals 345
- Index 365
