The idea of using food for medicinal purposes dates back thousands of years. The nutraceutical industry has evolved from that ancient concept and applied it to modern medicine.
What Are Nutraceuticals?
Nutraceuticals are non-pharmaceutical drugs that contain a substance derived from food, but are not in food form. Demand for nutraceuticals has recently increased in response to the growing costs of conventional pharmaceuticals. A recent Statista study projects the nutraceuticals industry to be a $130 billion market by 2025. Nutraceuticals are not meant to be dietary substitutes, but can be used as supplements when your daily diet lacks specific vitamins or minerals. In this blog, we’ll take a deeper look into nutraceutical product development and the benefits nutraceuticals provide.
Popular Types of Nutraceuticals
There are thousands of different products in the nutraceutical supplement industry. Here are some of the most popular supplements in the global nutraceutical market and the health benefits they provide:
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is seen naturally in beef, tuna, and dairy products. It’s used as a dietary supplement to increase energy levels, maintain healthy nerves, and aid in the production of red blood cells.
Green Tea
Green tea extract is one of the most popular nutraceuticals in the world. It enhances the body’s ability to burn fat and acts as an antioxidant, delivering vitamins and nutrients that slow down aging.
Ginseng
Ginseng is another popular extract in the United States. It purifies the skin, balances the digestive system, decreases stress, and stabilizes blood sugar.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a supplement used to treat arthritis and joint pain. It’s an amino sugar that helps build cartilage in the body.
Fennel
Fennel is an herb that provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. It’s used as a dietary supplement because it acts as a natural appetite suppressant.
Additional Benefits of Nutraceuticals
Additional benefits offered by non-pharmaceutical drugs in the nutraceuticals industry are wide-ranging, and include:
Improved Immune Function
Nutraceuticals that include vitamin D help strengthen immune health and prevent disease.
Improved Eye Health
People suffering from glaucoma and macular degeneration can benefit from nutraceuticals that contain vitamins C and E. Supplements with omega-3 fatty acids promote retinal function and visual development.
Improved Mental Health
Nutraceuticals can play a critical role in the prevention and treatment of some mental health disorders. Supplements with omega-3, vitamin B, and magnesium can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Differences Between Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals
The nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries have the same goal: to increase the quality of life of the consumer. However, some distinct differences separate the two products. Those include:
Regulation
The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated. Any pharmaceutical product must undergo strict testing, and has to be approved by the FDA before being made available to the public. Nutraceuticals allow people to be more proactive about their health because they’re not as heavily regulated.
Affordability
Pharmaceutical products typically require a prescription, and may cost more if you don’t have proper coverage. Nutraceuticals are more affordable and don’t require a prescription, making them more accessible to the public.
Consumer Perception
Nutraceuticals are seen as preventative medicine, while pharmaceuticals are viewed as a treatment for an already existing condition.
Nutraceutical Product Development Solutions Offered By Thomas
Thomas has provided tablet coating solutions to the pharmaceutical industry for the last 60 years, and has recently expanded into coating solutions for the nutraceutical industry. Our tablet coaters offer complete access with an easy-to-clean design, helping you change compositions without fear of cross-contamination. Some of our tablet coating machines designed for use in the nutraceutical industry include:
FLEX 200
Our FLEX 200 is a fully integrated, production-scale tablet coating system that features exchangeable drums. It provides maximum coating efficiency and is ideal for film, drug layer, and sugar coating materials.
FLEX 500
Our FLEX 500 provides the greatest level of versatility. Featuring enhanced utilization and a higher output rate, it can increase profit and efficiency for our clients. The FLEX 500 was built for today’s needs, and has become the preferred choice for processing tablets using film, sugar, functional, and drug layer coatings.
FLEX 1000
Our FLEX 1000 is the world’s highest-capacity tablet coater with exchangeable drums. It offers a state-of-the-art, recipe-driven control system and features a practical coater design, making it suitable for film, sugar, and drug layer coating.
Thomas Delivers the Results You Need
Thomas has become a global leader in designing and manufacturing pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Contact Thomas today if you’re in the market for modern pharmaceutical machinery with applications in the nutraceuticals industry.
