Nutraceuticals adverse effects

Finally, a particularly interesting ongoing challenge will be to understand the potential for do-it-yourself immune stimulation to have unintended consequences. There are now many herbal supplements, functional foods and other over-the-counter products that promise to boost the immune response and most are considered to be safe for use by the general public. Although there is limited published evidence of adverse immune system effects of these materials, some have been associated with autoimmunity [95,96], See chapter 11 for a detailed discussion of the beneficial and potential adverse effects of nutraceuticals and functional foods. 

Although the major nutraceuticals included in this article are components of food or present in normal human metabolism, adverse effects and interactions with prescription medicines have been reported. Increasing use of these compoimds by consumers at high doses and chronic administration may reveal further adverse effects. Little or no research into safety and quality is required by law, which has potentially serious implications for the safety of the product, and the health of the consumer. 

As nutraceuticals are not classified as medicinal products, their manufacture is often not legally regulated. Nutraceuticals are widely available for sale, and the many suppliers may formulate their products differently this leads to variations between products of different manufacturers. Products available for purchase are not necessarily of the same quality as those used in reported clinical trials. For effective and safe use, the products must contain the same active ingredient, at the same concentration, have known bioavailability per delivery system, and state detailed and correct information on packaging or patient leaflet. However, possibly due to purchase from non-pharmaceutical sources such as the Internet, there is often little information on efficacy, drug interactions, effect of long-term use, abrupt discontinuation, or potential adverse effects available to patients. 

In present system of medicine and healthcare, nutraceuticals play a significant role. These products are extremely active, have profound effect on cell metabolism, and possess little adverse effects. The limitations of nutraceuticals such as lack of quality control and dose recommendation are the major areas of concern. Nutraceutical professionals and regulatory bodies need to play a crucial role for safety maintenance... 

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