Preface

On my first day as an Assistant Professor, I was tasked with designing a brand new course. With absolutely no idea or training on how to do that I thought – there must be a textbook on the subject. Long story short, I did not find what I was looking for. Fast forward several years later and now an Associate Professor at a different institution, I still find myself looking for that textbook. Having been co-instructor for an upper-year course in Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals for several years now, I constantly find myself scrambling to find relevant, high-quality and up-to-date research that will help to explain the convoluted and often frustrating world of dietary-supplements/nutraceuticals. This drove me to put together that elusive book that I had been searching for.

I wanted to do something that covered all aspects of nutraceuticals. I wanted it to be more than just a resource that helps to uncover the fundamental question that those of us who take supplements ask – will it actually help me? Or, in more appropriate terms, what is the evidence that supports its use? While fundamental and overarching, this particular question often neglects a number of facets of this topic and overlooks key areas that are central to the quality of the actual product. Research summarizing whether a product performs according to the purported claims without question has merit, but overlooks how the product goes from plant/food-to-pill, how processing can alter bioactive structure and function, the regulations around claims and development, and what happens when that pill finally gets consumed. All of these factors play a crucial role in answering that fundamental question. Thus, the purpose of this book wasn't just to help me find that book, but was also to create an ultimate resource that will help explain the full process by which nutraceuticals go from plant or food to a health-improving pill.

Paul A. Spagnuolo