Food Supplements

Food supplement also known as nutritional supplement are natural biologically active substances that are essential for the organism to work properly. Food supplements usually contain a certain amount of vital substances that are missing or aren't consumed in the right quantities. These substances usually include minerals, vitamins, amino and fatty acids, some herbals.

There are 3 types of dietary supplements:

1. Parapharmaceuticals
2. Nutraceuticals

The term parapharmaceuticals is very close to medicinal preparation. Parapharmaceuticals are distinguished from medications by the following criterion:

1. Parapharmaceuticals contain a very low dose of active ingredient. This dose is much lower then therapeutic one. Parapharmaceuticals include substances of herbal, microbiological, animal and apiculture origin.
2. Therapeutic effect occurs in 8-12 weeks.
3. Lack of side effects.

Nutraceuticals are supplements intended to supply human organism with essential substances. They are divided into 2 groups:

• Nutraceuticals, that are necessary for the functional nutrition
• Nutraceuticals, that are intended to supply organism with nutrient materials when our body is not able to produce them by itself.

Nutraceuticals comprise vitamins, minerals, enzymes, dietary fibers, amino acids, essential fatty acids.