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Dutch dietitians: awareness of nutraceuticals

ten Hoeve ALShort Communication, Published online June 24, 2010

Abstract
The term ‘Nutraceutical’ has been extensively used in marketing in the United States. ‘Nutraceutical’ is defined by Health Canada as “a product isolated or purified from food that is generally sold in medicinal forms not usually associated with food. and demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease”. To assess the awareness and opinions regarding nutraceuticals among dietitians, participants of an online survey designed to collect data on recommendations, personal use and beliefs regarding dietary supplements among dietitians, were requested to answer the two additional questions. Of the participating dietitans 43.2% had ever heard of the term ‘nutraceutical’, while 37.9% indicated they thought nutraceuticals, as defined by Health Canada, are effective to keep one healthy and reduce the necessity to go to a primary care physician or specialist. Practicing CAM therapy correlated statistically significantly with considering nutraceuticals effective (p < 0.0005).

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