Nutraceuticals: a pharmaceutical viewpoint: I

Nutraceuticals are destined to play an important role in future therapeutic developments but their success will be governed by control of purity, safety and efficacy without inhibiting innovation. The straightforward application of pharmaceutical standards, especially across national borders, is likely to be a difficult challenge and could effectively paralyse the industry. Nevertheless more standardized formulations, dosage forms and production controls are called for. A place for nutraceuticals in clinical practice is emerging, but important pharmaceutical and clinical issues need to be addressed by further research. (C) 2002 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.