Nutraceuticals: Pharmacy's Challenge and Opportunity

The rapid increase in the use of nutraceuticals by large segments of the American population presents both a challenge and professional opportunity for pharmacists. Nutraceuticals include dietary supplements, functional foods, and medicinal foods. The regulations regarding the marketing and advertising of nutraceuticals are less stringent than those governing pharmaceuticals. Quality control standards for nutraceuticals vary significantly among manufacturers. Information regarding clinical effectiveness and interaction of nutraceuticals with pharmaceuticals is not readily accessible to many pharmacy practitioners. Pharmacists' formal education in recent decades deemphasized the clinical use of natural products. While the growing public interest in nutraceuticals presents a new opportunity to pharmacy for patient service, the current regulatory and information climate presents significant challenges to the rendering of such service.