Definition of Health Product
Health product has different definitions in different countries, for example in Japan, it is called functional food which emphasize the primary purpose of regulating the body functions. They don’t call them “health products” in the united state, this kind of health products are called nutrition and functional foods. In our country, there have been various definitions for health product, some even confuse it with medicine. In 1996, the Ministry of Health issued a “health product management” which specifies the definition of health product. In the article 2 the first chapter of “health food management”, it points out that “health product means the products that has specific functions, which is suitable for specific target groups, it aims to regulate the body function instead of treatment of diseases”. Therefore, health products are characterized by its regulation of human body, rather than the treatment of diseases. For people with normal physiological function who would like to maintain the health and prevent diseases, it is a nutritional supplement for people with physiological dysfunction, it is a regulator, it is the food that strengthen the immune function.
Health products are foodstuff, but it is more than the ordinary foodstuff.
First of all, health nutraceuticals must be foodstuff, which means non-toxic and harmless. It should be in line with the basic requirements of ordinary food, which can provide one or more nutrients that can be digested.
secondly, nutraceutical should has specific health functions which can be validated by scientific tests, it meets the special needs on regulation of physiological functions of the target group at the same time, it cannot replace the normal dietary and variety of essential nutrients.
Thirdly, health products are special foodstuff that suitable for specific group of people which address the special needs of them, the target group and dosage are restricted.
At last, though the health products fulfill the special needs of the target group, this result must be achieved under a certain dose, the functional factors take part in the regulation of physiological condition to promote the body develop from unstable or even illness to normal. This transformation is a slow progress, when the patient is already sick, health product is not a replacement of medicine for therapy.
Therefore health product cannot be medicine, neither, it is not for treatment of diseases, it only fulfills the body’s needs by regulation of body’s physiological functions.
Classification of Nutraceuticals
Health product means the products that have specific functions, which is suitable for specific target groups, it aims to regulate the body function instead of treatment of diseases. Therefore products intend to register as health product must have 3 attributes:
1, attribute of foodstuff
2, attribute of function, has specific functions
3, attribute of non-medicine.
Health products are mainly classified as nutrient supplements and functional products that are able to regulate body functions.
1, nutrient supplements: products supply one or more vitamin(s), mineral but not aim to supply energy. The function is to prevent malnutrition and reduce the occurrence of certain chronic degenerative diseases. This kind of product is limited to vitamins and minerals.
2, functional products that regulate body functions.
2.1, strengthen immunity
2.2, improve sleeping quality
2.3, assist to prevent chemical damage on liver
2.4, increase bone density
2.5, induce resistant to hypoxia
2.6, assist to protect from radiation hazard
2.7, relieve physical fatigue***
2.8, relieve visual fatigue**
2.9, dispel acne**
2.10, dispel pigment spots**
2.11, improve skin moisture**
2.12, improve oil balance of skin**
2.13, assist to lower the blood lipid level*
2.14, assist to lower the blood glucose level*
2.15, anti-oxidation*
2.16, assist to improve memory*
2.17, induce mercury elimination*
2.18, protect the pharynx*
2.19, assist to lower blood pressure*
2.20, improve lactation*
2.21, lose weight****
2.22, improve growth****
2.23, improve alimentary anemia*
2.24, regulate colonies of bacteria in intestine*
2.25, improve digestion*
2.26, prevent constipation*
2.27, assist to prevent from gastric mucosal injury*.
Notes:
Functions with the * have to carry out animal test and human test.
Functions with the ** have to carry out human test but not animal test.
Functions with *** need to carry out doping control.
