Nutraceuticals Versus Supplements: What’s The Difference?

The confusion between supplements and nutraceuticals is all too common in the health and wellness landscape. While both will enhance your overall well-being, they are in fact not interchangeable terms like many believe them to be.

In the UK, the term nutraceuticals is rarely used, while in the USA, it is applied much more frequently. However, they often employ it in reference to supplements. For example, many ‘nutraceutical’ manufacturers in the USA actually focus on producing supplements.

The difference between nutraceuticals and supplement lies in the purposes they serve and the claims that can be made concerning them. So, let’s clarify the nuances behind what sets them apart, helping you know exactly what you’re talking about when it comes to health and wellness.

Definition

Nutraceuticals

A nutraceutical is a product isolated from a compound or whole food that provides additional health benefits, such as treating disorders and diseases, beyond the basic nutrition found in foods.

As you may have guessed, the term “nutraceutical” merges “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical” together, emphasising its dual role in promoting general well-being while also preventing, controlling, and treating various symptomatic health conditions, in the same way as a pharmaceutical product. 

In contrast to pharmaceuticals however, these are not synthetic substances or chemical compounds formulated for specific indications.

Nutraceuticals encompass a broad range of products, including functional foods (like fortified foods), herbal products, and certain dietary ingredients that provide medicinal benefits. 

Supplements

Supplements are products that contain a “dietary ingredient” intended to augment the diet. These dietary ingredients can include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes, organ tissues, metabolites, and many more. 

They are all about supporting a healthy diet and keeping you feeling great, but they will not provide major health benefits.

Supplements are available in various forms, including tablets, capsules, gelcaps, liquids, and powders. All of which we at Supplement Factory can create and manufacture for you!

Purpose

Nutraceuticals provide targeted health benefits beyond basic nutrition, often designed to prevent or manage specific health issues and support functions like ageing or immunity. They are, therefore, more medicinal in nature than supplements.

Conversely, supplements focus on filling nutritional gaps by supplying essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients the diet may lack, supporting overall health and proper bodily function. 

While both enhance well-being, nutraceuticals directly address specific health goals, while supplements cater to general nutrient needs.

Claims

When it comes to labelling and health claims, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements operate under different rules, particularly in how they can address health conditions. 

Nutraceuticals can make more extensive claims about health outcomes, often emphasising their ability to manage or prevent specific health issues due to the unique combination of ingredients they contain. This broader scope means nutraceuticals can imply that their ingredients work synergistically to support specific health needs, giving them a more medicinal appeal.

On the other hand, dietary supplements cannot suggest that they can treat, prevent, or cure any disease or medical condition.

In the USA supplements must adhere to the guidelines of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Under this regulation, supplements can only describe how a nutrient influences the structure or function of the body. For instance, “supports immune health” or “promotes muscle recovery”. They cannot legally suggest that they treat, prevent, or cure any disease. 

The same is true in the UK under food law.

The Bottom Line

The key message to takeaway is that supplements are crafted to fill nutritional gaps, supporting daily health, while nutraceuticals go a step further by targeting specific health concerns with their medicinal edge. 

Recognising this key difference will help you to choose products that align with your individual health goals and allow you to generally navigate the wellness landscape with greater confidence and precision.