Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals encompass dietary supplements and functional foods that individuals consume to support or enhance health beyond basic nutritional needs. This category includes vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds—such as fish oil, garlic, glucosamine, and evening primrose oil—as well as multivitamins and targeted supplements like folic acid, zinc, and vitamin D. These self-administered interventions are often used for their potential roles in immune support, joint health, cardiovascular protection, and overall well-being. Tracking nutraceutical intake provides valuable context when interpreting clinical and biochemical data, especially in personalized health approaches where supplementation may influence biomarker levels or disease risk.

During the UK Biobank research, we examined correlations of survey reported uses of several products. Our research is ongoing regarding these products and their impact on specific outcomes. Below are early results of correlations and prevalence multipliers for several products and the categories in this guide. We continue to refine this work and will report additional findings soon. While the effects of many of these products on health and disease remain unclear, ongoing and future research will further shed light on their benefits and risks. Generally, nutraceuticals are not involved in clinical trials and approved by the FDA for statements related to improved health. For a comprehensive review please reference this paper published in Nutrients in 2022.[105]

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[105]Puri V, Nagpal M, Singh I, et al. A Comprehensive Review on Nutraceuticals: Therapy Support and Formulation Challenges. Nutrients. 2022;14(21):4637. doi:10.3390/nu14214637