What Are Nutraceuticals and How Can They Improve Our Health?

Although the term nutraceutical is not new in the scientific field, its origin is relatively recent: it was coined in 1989 by American physician Stephen DeFelice to describe foods or food-derived compounds that provide health benefits beyond their basic nutritional value. Since then, interest in this category has grown exponentially, so much so that the global nutraceuticals market was valued at over $340 billion in 2020, and it is projected to reach $675 billion by 2027. This figure reflects more than a commercial trend: it reveals how our understanding of the relationship between food and health has evolved. 

And there are good reasons behind this phenomenon. For example, a compound found in turmeric, curcumin, has shown anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in preclinical studies, with potential to act on diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. While solid human clinical trials are still needed, these findings help explain why the boundary between nutrition and pharmacology is becoming increasingly blurred. 

Nutraceuticals represent a promise of contemporary science: to intervene in human health through the everyday. But that promise coexists with legitimate uncertainties about their real effectiveness, regulation, limitations, and risks. Understanding their true scope means exploring not only what they are, but also how they work, what scientific evidence supports them, and what role they might play in the future of a medicine that is increasingly preventive, personalized, and evidence-based. 

What Are Nutraceuticals? 

Nutraceuticals occupy a middle ground between nutrition and pharmacology that has captured the interest of researchers, physicians, and regulators alike. They are bioactive compounds found in foods, such as antioxidants, fatty acids, polyphenols, amino acids, or probiotics, that, when isolated, concentrated, or formulated in specific doses, can have positive effects on specific physiological functions and help prevent disease. 

Unlike conventional foods, they are not consumed for their caloric or basic nutritional value, nor are they considered medicines. Their ambiguous nature, somewhere between food and therapy, is precisely what makes them such a unique and challenging category, both for research and regulation. In many cases, their action does not aim to replace biological processes, but rather to interact with them, supporting metabolic pathways, modulating inflammation, or boosting the immune system.  

From a biotechnological standpoint, nutraceuticals represent a way to redesign the relationship between diet and health at the molecular level. With tools like metabolomics, which allows researchers to analyze thousands of metabolites in a biological sample to understand how the body responds to a given compound; nutrigenomics, which studies how nutrients interact with our genes by turning specific metabolic functions on or off; or nanotechnology, which enables the encapsulation of active ingredients to enhance their absorption and efficacy, today, it’s possible to study how these compounds are absorbed, how they act in the body, and how they integrate into key cellular processes. This could ultimately lead to scientifically grounded therapeutic strategies tailored to individuals. 

In essence, nutraceuticals represent an effort to turn nutritional knowledge into a preventive or complementary intervention tool, based on molecular mechanisms that are now being identified with increasing precision. 

Mechanisms of Action: How do Nutraceuticals really work?  

Unlike essential nutrients, such as proteins, fats, or carbohydrates, whose primary roles are structural, energetic, or functional, nutraceuticals act more specifically on complex cellular processes. 

They function as biological modulators capable of interacting with biochemical pathways involved in inflammation, cellular aging, oxidative stress response, or even gene expression. 

Broadly speaking, their activity can be grouped into three major areas:  

• Inflammation Regulation: Many nutraceuticals influence immune system balance by modulating, not suppressing, the inflammatory response. For example, they act on signaling molecules such as NF-κB, which are responsible for the production of inflammatory cytokines. By doing so, they help reduce chronic inflammatory states without impairing the body’s natural defenses. This property is especially relevant in the context of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, arthritis, or neurodegenerative decline.
   

• Oxidative Stress Modulation: Oxidative stress occurs when there’s an imbalance between free radicals (reactive molecules that damage proteins, lipids, and DNA) and the body’s ability to neutralize them. Some nutraceuticals, such as vitamin C, quercetin, and curcumin, possess antioxidant properties that not only eliminate these radicals but also activate endogenous antioxidant defense pathways.
   

• Enzymatic and Genetic Activity Modulation: Nutraceuticals can also influence the function of key enzymes or the expression of genes related to inflammation, metabolism, or cellular aging. For instance, compounds like resveratrol (found in grape skin) have shown epigenetic effects: they can activate or silence genes without altering the DNA sequence. This opens doors to the prevention of chronic diseases and the emerging field of healthy longevity. 

While these findings are highly promising, particularly in preclinical studies, a key challenge remains: low bioavailability of many compounds makes their clinical use in humans more difficult. To overcome this, biotech solutions such as nanoemulsions, microencapsulation, or lipid-based carriers are being developed to enhance solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of active ingredients to tissues. 

Real-World Applications and Clinical Evidence 

Nutraceuticals have genuine potential when supported by rigorous clinical evidence. For instance, recent reviews of nutraceutical interventions in hypertension report modest yet significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. 

Another area of promise is their use as complementary therapies: they can improve treatment adherence and help mitigate side effects—especially when adjusted to individual genetic profiles, which opens the door to personalized nutrition. 

In dermatology, compounds such as vitamins A, C, and E, collagen peptides, and carotenoids have clinical support for maintaining skin health and improving visible skin quality. And in the cognitive realm, recent studies on polyphenol-rich products have shown improvements in key brain functions and activation of neuroprotective biomarkers. 

Regulation 

The legal framework surrounding nutraceuticals is one of the most complex and variable aspects of the field. At the global level, there is no single definition or harmonized classification: in some countries they are considered dietary supplements, while in others they are closer to pharmaceutical products, depending on their composition, use, or health claims. 

In the U.S., nutraceuticals are marketed as dietary supplements under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. This law states that manufacturers do not need prior FDA approval to release products, as long as they do not make therapeutic claims, i.e., claims to cure, treat, or prevent disease. However, they must ensure product safety, follow good manufacturing practices, and report any serious adverse effects. The FDA can take post-market actions if problems are identified, such as conducting inspections, issuing public warnings, or ordering recalls. 

European Union 

In the EU, nutraceuticals are not recognized as a separate legal category but fall under the framework for food supplements. This regulation sets general principles for permitted ingredients, labeling, and marketing conditions, but does not allow therapeutic claims (i.e., the product cannot claim to prevent, treat, or cure diseases). 

Any health claim on the label must be backed by scientific evidence and approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This agency evaluates whether studies submitted by companies meet strict standards for quality and reproducibility. Only then is the claim authorized for commercial use. 

Additionally, each EU member state may apply additional controls over sale and distribution, especially concerning botanical products, where national differences still exist. For example, in Germany, certain extracts may only be used under medical supervision, while in other countries they are sold freely as supplements. 

European regulation prioritizes consumer safety and transparency but still faces significant challenges in market harmonization and oversight, particularly given the rise of online sales and the influx of imported products from countries with more lenient regulatory systems. 

 

ARQUIMEA Research Center 

In line with this forward-looking vision, ARQUIMEA Research Center is participating in the NATUR-EXT project, an initiative aimed at harnessing renewable biological resources as a source of high-value compounds for industry, within a framework of circular economy and sustainability. One of the main goals is the development of procedures for the extraction and validation of emerging compounds of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical interest. 

The center’s contribution focuses on research into Salicornia europaea, a halophytic plant rich in high-value fatty acids. The work combines optimized cultivation techniques with the development of sustainable extraction methods, applying principles of green chemistry to maximize resource efficiency and minimize environmental impact. In doing so, the project opens up new possibilities for the discovery and validation of compounds with promising applications across various fields of science and health.