In this chapter we define the term “nutraceutical” and its relevance to arthritic diseases, and
summarize recent research on nutraceuticals for joint disorders, particularly osteoarthritis (OA). The
nutraceutical industry is not regulated. Consequently there are concerns about the purity, labeling and
advertising of nutraceuticals. Manufacturers of nutraceuticals have a duty to communicate the benefits
of their products with supporting scientific and clinical evidence. Nutraceutical products should be
clearly labelled and advertising campaigns should be truthful and well balanced. The public and the
scientific community require greater transparency and uniformity of commercially produced
nutraceuticals. Consumers need to be able to make an informed choice about nutraceuticals based on
evidence. We advocate greater regulation and regular independent testing of these products in order to
ensure uniformity and greater reliability. The intended audience for this article include clinicians, basic
researchers, producers of nutraceuticals and functional foods and advertising and marketing companies
worldwide, particularly multi-national companies requiring information on issues relating to
nutraceutical regulation.
Keywords: Osteoarthritis (OA), nutraceutical, regulation, purity, labeling, advertising.
