Methodological challenges conducting epidemiological research on nutraceuticals in health and disease

Abstract

Nutraceuticals are a large variety of products that include vitamin/mineral supplements, bioactive food substances, specific parts of plants, herbal supplements, specially formulated foods, and may even include genetically modified foods. Except for vitamins/minerals, a huge gap in knowledge exists regarding the role of nutraceuticals in human health and disease due to inadequate epidemiological research. Yet, the global nutraceutical market is huge and growing on the basis of health claims. In this paper, the methodological challenges to the conduct of epidemiological research on nutraceuticals in health and disease are discussed.