industry basic research in nutrition has shed light on the role of various nutrients and other substances such as nutraceuticals, phytochemicals / bioactive substances resulting in the growth of the discipline of clinical nutrition. Researchers and scientists continue to discover the role of individual nutrients ranging from a role in gene expression, metabolic regulation and in the prevention and treatment of disease. For example, antioxidants like beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin E and vitamin C, particularly from food, appear to have a protective role. According to the FSSAI, foods for special dietary uses or functional foods or nutraceuticals or health supplements means foods which are specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary requirements which exist because of a particular physical or physiological condition or specific diseases and disorders and which are presented as such, wherein the composition of these foodstuffs must differ significantly from the composition of ordinary foods of comparable nature, if such ordinary foods exist, and may contain one or more of the following ingredients, namely: (i) plants or botanicals or their parts in the form of powder, concentrate or extract in water, ethyl alcohol or hydro alcoholic extract, single or in combination; (ii) minerals or vitamins or proteins or metals or their compounds or amino acids (in amounts not exceeding the Recommended Daily Allowance for Indians) or enzymes (within permissible limits); (iii) substances from animal origin; (iv) a dietary substance for use by human beings to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intakes.
Medical foods are those products that are specially manufactured for persons with specific needs. Such foods are regulated and can be used only with a doctor’s prescription for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition. Phytochemicals/Bioactive compounds are non-nutrient constituents present in foods that have physiological or biological activity and influence health.