Review Article

Nutraceuticals: Pharmacologically Active Potent Dietary Supplements

Table 2

Essential micro- or macronutrients/vitamins and their therapeutic uses.

VitaminsTherapeutic uses

Vitamin AMaintain healthy skin, mucus membrane and vision, body growth and development, anticancer, skin disorder, and antioxidant
Vitamin DFormation of teeth and bones (which helps the body to absorb and use calcium)
Vitamin EBoost the immune system, antioxidant (formation of nerve tissue, blood cells, muscles, and lungs)
Vitamin KClotting of blood
H2O (soluble vitamins & acids)
Vitamin CMaintain good skin, gums, bones, & teeth, wound healing & reduce cold & cough, antioxidant
Vitamin B1Essential in neurological functions and convert food into energy
Vitamin B2Energy production, maintain healthy skin, eyes, & nerve
Vitamin B3Convert food into energy and maintain brain function
Vitamin B6Produce proteins and convert protein into energy
Vitamin B12Produce the DNA of cells, form red blood cells, maintain CNS and amino acid synthesize, metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
Folic acidEssential for preventing birth defects, formation of RBC (“red blood cell”), produce DNA of cells, heart disease protector
Pantothenic acidCholesterol, fatty acids & steroid synthesis, acetylcholine intraneuronal synthesis
Vitamin-like compounds
BiotinUsed in different biotransformation processes
L-CarnitineFormation of certain organic acid excretion and phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation
CholineLipotropic agent; these are used for treatment of fatty liver and interrupted fat metabolism
Vitamin FSynthesis of prostaglandins, leukotrienes & different hydroxyl fatty acids, membrane development
Inositol lipotropic agentsFormation & movement of potassium & sodium, transportation of amino acid
TaurineConjugation of bile acid, CNS neuromodulation, retinal photoreceptor activity, antioxidant activity in WBC, platelet aggregation, cardiac contractility, sperm growth & motility, insulin growth & development activity