Abstract
This chapter examines a number of proposed nutraceuticals. Functional foods are not specifically addressed. Each section of the chapter is divided into an evaluation of the “proof-of-concept” studies that purport to demonstrate efficacy, an examination of the claimed modes and mechanisms of action of each nutraceutical, and, where available, a brief discussion of any identified key adverse effects. Nutraceutical agents covered include curcumin, Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd), Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek), Emblica officinalis (Indian gooseberry), Murraya koenigii (curry tree), Vigna sp. (black gram), Camellia sinensis (tea), Hibiscus sabdariffa, Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort), avocado, capsicum, and rosemary. While potential nutraceutical products and ingredients continue to be a frequent source of “proof-of-concept” scientific publications, high-quality human clinical trial data is often lacking. Substantial translational scientific work is still needed for many nutraceuticals in terms of assessing their safety and demonstrating their efficacy in humans and animals.
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Cope, R.B. (2019). Nutraceuticals in Obesity and Metabolic Disorders. In: Gupta, R., Srivastava, A., Lall, R. (eds) Nutraceuticals in Veterinary Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04624-8_34
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04624-8_34
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