Selected Information Resources For Nutraceuticals: Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods

Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods
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Selected Information Resources for Nutraceuticals
Natalie Kupferberg & Jane Duffy
To cite this article: Natalie Kupferberg & Jane Duffy (2001) Selected Information Resources for
Nutraceuticals, Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods, 3:4, 63-83, DOI: 10.1300/
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for Nutraceuticals
Natalie Kupferberg
Jane Duffy
ABSTRACT. The use of alternative and integrative medicine has grown

in recent years, especially the use of nutraceuticals. After defining the
term, this article provides an annotated listing of information sources
about nutraceuticals meant for both the practitioner and health care con-
sumer. The list is divided into the following categories: books, journals,
databases and web sites. For each work, the annotations provide (1) the
intended audience, (2) the scope of coverage, (3) organization of infor-
mation, and (4) comments regarding the work’s strengths, and where ap-
plicable, weaknesses. The section on on-line databases offers guidelines
on effective searching. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth
Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: <getinfo@
haworthpressinc.com> Website: <http://www.HaworthPress.com>  2001 by
The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
KEYWORDS. Nutraceuticals, dietary supplement, information resources
The word “nutraceutical,” formed from the words “nutrition” and “pharma-
ceutical,” first appeared in the fourth edition of the American Heritage Dictio-
Natalie Kupferberg is Assistant Professor, and Pharmacy Librarian at the Biologi-

cal Sciences/Pharmacy Library, Ohio State University (E-mail: kupferberg.1@osu.
edu).
Jane Duffy is Assistant Professor, and Physics/Astronomy Librarian at the Science
and Engineering Library, Ohio State University (E-mail: duffy.88@osu.edu).
The authors would like to acknowledge the encouragement and assistance of Gerry
Greenberg, Associate Professor, Reference Librarian and Physical Education Bibliog-
rapher at the Education, Human Ecology, Social Work and Psychology Library at the
Ohio State University; and Susan Voge, Assistant Professor and Reference Librarian at
the Lehman College Library of the City University of New York.
Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods, Vol. 3(4) 2001
 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 63
64 Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods
nary of the English Language that was published in the year 2000.1 The word
may be new but the concept has been with us a long time. The dictionary de-
fines the word, which was “coined” by Dr. Stephen Defelice in 1988 as “a food
or a naturally occurring food supplement thought to have a beneficial effect on
human health.” The American Nutraceutical Association, established in 1997,
defines nutraceuticals “as functional foods that have potentially disease-pre-
venting and health promoting properties.”2 The American Dietetic Associa-
tion states that functional foods are “healthy foods or food ingredients that
provide health benefits beyond the traditional nutrients it contains.”3 Some
authors use the word “nutraceutical” to describe intact foods such as fruits,
vegetables and soy products and use the term “nutritional supplements” for
products ingested independently or in a formula with other supplements.4
The use of alternative and integrated medicine therapies has grown in recent
years, as has the use of herbal medicines and dietary supplements. The propor-
tion of Americans using an alternative therapy rose from about 34% in 1990 to
approximately 42% in 1997.5 “Use of dietary supplements in particular ex-
ploded: between 1990 and 1997 the use of herbal remedies rose 380%, while
that of high-dose vitamins increased by 130%”6 and according to the 2000
PDR for Nutritional Supplements,7 three out of four Americans now use nutri-
tional supplements on a regular basis.
The purpose of this article is to provide an annotated list of information
sources about nutraceuticals. Although nutraceuticals may also include herbal
or botanical substances, i.e., food from plants, this article will not include
sources in that area. Readers may find this information in an excellent article in
the Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy.8
The listing of sources is divided into the categories of books, journals, data-
bases and web sites. Some resources are available in both electronic and print
media. Although it would be impossible to include all useful sources in
nutraceuticals, our goal is to give the reader an informed start in finding the
most useful resource for the nutraceutical information required.
BOOKS
Despite the timeliness of journals and the speedy retrieval functions of elec-
tronic sources, books remain the best resources with which to begin when
seeking basic information or references to other sources. This book list is sug-
gested as a possible core collection for both practitioners and consumers, and
as a starting point for answering a wide variety of questions about nutra-
ceuticals and functional foods. With more consumers researching health infor-
mation on their own and 75 percent taking dietary supplements on a regular
basis, it is imperative that health practitioners be aware of which sources to
Natalie Kupferberg and Jane Duffy 65
recommend to their patients.7 In this age of informed health care consumers,

there is no easy division between works for the consumer and for the practitio-
ner. Much depends on the background and knowledge of each reader and the
level of information required.
The following list has been sub-divided (1) into compendia that give infor-
mation on specific nutraceuticals, (2) books that are aimed at the specialist
explaining how nutraceuticals work and discussing current issues in their de-
velopment and marketing, and (3) nutrition textbooks that include chapters
and discussions of nutraceuticals. This list is not meant to be exhaustive or
comprehensive. For information purposes, we have included a few works that
have questionable information and utility simply because of their popularity.
*These books are recommended for initial purchase.
Compendia
*American Nutraceutical Association. Nutraceuticals: The Complete Encyclope-

dia of Supplements, Herbs, Vitamins and Healing Foods. ISBN: 0-39952-632-3
New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 2001. (Cost $21.95)
This is a very good first selection for the consumer who requires compre-
hensive and authoritative information on vitamins, minerals, dietary supple-
ments and botanical medicines. The book first describes medical conditions
and presents their possible nutraceutical remedies. Monographs follow on the
top 200 nutraceuticals including botanical medicines. The information in-
cludes therapeutic uses, evidence of efficacy, dosages and possible side ef-
fects. There are also explanations of how the each nutraceutical works. Included
are sections on nutraceuticals for women, nutraceuticals for men and athletes,
and anti-aging references. Although there is a selective bibliography, a defi-
ciency of the book is that no references are given after the individual articles.
In spite of this, this reasonably priced work is still highly useful for both the
consumer and practitioner.
Balch, Phyllis A. & Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. 3rd
Edition. ISBN: 1-58333-077-1. New York: Avery, 2000. (Cost $28.95)
The first edition of this book was published in 1990 before the word
“nutraceutical” entered common parlance. This third edition lists 250 health
disorders, describes possible causes of them, and suggests nutrients helpful in
their treatment labeling them as very important, important or helpful. It gives
general recommendations and descriptions of various herbs. Although one of
the authors is an MD, no references are given to back up any of the book’s
claims. The book may attempt to cover too much, thereby making its content
thin in parts, yet it provides useful background information on nutraceuticals

and serves as a general guide to holistic health.
Balch, Phyllis A. & Balch, James. Prescription for Dietary Wellness: Using
Food to Heal. ISBN: 0-89529-868-6. New York: Avery, 1998. (Cost $16.95)
This work by the authors of Prescription for Nutrition Healing, is designed
to be practical. After introductory material, food categories are described, buy-
ing guides are given, and the food’s therapeutic benefits, e.g., cabbage kills
bacteria, are stated. Many healthy recipes are provided including some that
will appeal to children. This book is recommended for its practical functional
food preparation guidelines, such as preparing sauces with such herbs as gin-
ger root and dill, and how to make tofu gravy.
Murray, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements: The Essential

Guide for Improving Your Health Naturally. ISBN: 0-76150-410-9. Roseville,
CA: Prima-Publishing, 1996. (Cost $19.95)
Michael Murray, the author of many books for both professionals and the
public on naturopathic medicine, has written a comprehensive and detailed
guide to information on vitamins, minerals and accessory nutrients, i.e., food
components and natural physiological agents that have demonstrated impres-
sive health promoting effects. In addition to information found in many other
sources such as dosages and therapeutic uses, there is substantial space de-
voted to safety issues, interactions and use in pregnancy. A quick reference
guide for specific health conditions is also provided. Herbs are not included.
Unlike many other books on this subject, this one includes an extensive list of
scientific references for each chapter. Although the book is to be reprinted in
2001, the only thing new will be the cover design. While it would be optimal if
a new edition were published soon, the consumer or professional seeking in-
formation on nutritional supplements will nonetheless find this book a worth-
while addition to a collection of nutraceutical information materials.
PDR for Nonprescription Drugs and Dietary Supplements. 21th Edition. ISBN:
1-56363-341-8. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company. 2000. (Cost
$49.95)
In 2000, Medical Economics, the publisher of Physicians Desk Reference
for Nonprescription Drugs, added a section on dietary supplements including
nutritionals, herbals and functional foods. Product information has been pre-
pared, edited and approved by the professional staff of the manufacturer of

each product. This information, however, is superficial, aside from a detailed
listing of the ingredients in the products that are included. REFERENCES are
few. Although the indexes make the products easy to locate, libraries and prac-
titioners needing greater depth of coverage are better advised to purchase the
PDR for Nutritional Supplements.
*PDR for Nutritional Supplements. ISBN: 1-56363-364-7. Montvale, NJ:

Medical Economics Company, 2001. (Cost $59.95)
Unlike other Physicians Desk Reference publications, this book offers in-
formation not prepared by manufacturers. The information on over 300 sup-
plements includes their trade name, description and mechanism of action,
pharmacokinetics, indications and usage, contraindications and adverse ef-
fects, interactions with foods, drugs and herbs, and dosage. There is also a use-
ful clinical research summary for each product. The writing is clear, accessible
to the layperson and direct. If the evidence for the therapeutic effect has been
produced, it says so: if there is no evidence for its claim, this is stated plainly,
and if the evidence is preliminary, mixed or anecdotal, this is made clear as
well. The book has an excellent layout with wide margins. REFERENCES are
listed after each monograph. Numerous indexes including an indication index
and interaction guides, make the information easy to navigate. This new publi-
cation is highly recommended for the practitioner as well as the consumer.
Specialized Books
Most of the following books require some background in nutrition and re-
lated sciences. For less specialized sources, see the listings under nutrition
textbooks.
Defelice, Stephen L., ed. Nutraceuticals: Developing, Claiming and Mar-

keting Medical Foods. ISBN: 0-8247-0107-0. New York: Marcel Dekker,
1998. (Cost $85)
Most of the articles in this book, compiled by the person who introduced the
term “nutraceutical,” deal with regulations and laws about marketing and
claiming medical benefits from nutraceuticals. Defelice gives a concise his-
tory of what he calls the “nutraceutical revolution” as well as the Food & Drug
Administration’s response to it. The book was originally published as a special
issue of the journal Clinical Research & Regulatory Affairs 14(1) 1997.9 Al-
though the book lacks a table of contents and complete citations to some con-
ference material, it is important nonetheless as it clearly explains the regulatory

history of nutraceuticals.
Goldberg, Israel, ed. Functional Foods, Designer Foods, Pharmafoods,

Nutraceuticals. ISBN: 0-412-98851-8. New York: Chapman & Hall, 1994.
(out of print)
Israel Goldberg has brought together 24 articles by different authors about
functional foods, their marketing and future, the role of the food industry, and
their specific nutrient/body interactions. Some of these articles are very spe-
cific and require previous knowledge of the field. In addition to articles on the
nutritional and scientific benefits, articles are also concerned with how con-
sumers will react to these new foods in Japan, Europe and the United States.
Almost all nutraceutical books cite this work.
Lachance, Paul A. Nutraceuticals: Designer Foods III: Garlic, Soy and Lico-
rice. ISBN: 0-917678-0. Trumball, CT: Food & Nutrition Press, 1997. (Cost
$110)
This book provides scientific background on the ways in which nutra-
ceuticals work, concentrating exclusively on the ingredients in the popular
nutraceuticals garlic, soy and licorice. The papers were written for Rutgers
University third “Short Course on Designer Foods” in 1994. The book con-
tains highly academic information and is often cited.
Schmidl, Mary K. & Labuza, Theodore P. Essentials of Functional Foods.

ISBN: 0-834212-61-7. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen, 2000. ($89.00)
This is a collection of articles that discuss the technological aspects of func-
tional foods such as processing and preservation, their structure-function
claims and safety issues and packaging. It also outlines the historical, legal and
regulatory issues concerning functional foods. Professionals working in the
area of food science are the main audience for this book.
*Wildman, Robert, ed. Handbook of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods.

ISBN: 0-8493-8734-5. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2001. (Cost $119.95)
Written by specialists in both nutrition and dietetics, this book describes the
properties and cellular activities of over 200 nutraceuticals. It also includes a
history of nutraceuticals, their connection to disease prevention and food mar-
keting issues. Illustrations are provided of the molecular structure and design
of nutraceuticals as well as their metabolic pathways. Extensive references are
found at the conclusion of each chapter. This is an essential reference for all
clinicians, researchers, food scientists and students.
Yalpani, Manssur, ed. New Technologies for Healthy Foods and Nutraceut-
icals. ISBN: 1-88236-010-9. Shrewsbury, MA: A-T-L-Press-Scientific-Pub-
lishers, 1997. (Cost $225)
This book, intended for the food scientist, technologist or marketer, is di-
vided into four sections: “The Markets and the Players,” “New Product Tech-
nologies,” “Product Safety & Microbiological Characterization Technologies,”
and “Commercialization Strategies.” Because of its highly technical content,
this book is recommended to the practitioner with an extensive background in
food technology.
Nutrition Textbooks
Due to increasing consumer and scientific interest, all nutrition textbooks
and encyclopedias will soon devote entire sections to nutraceuticals. Included
here is a brief description of standard textbooks and reference works that al-
ready include sections on nutraceuticals or functional foods.
Francis, Frederic John. Encyclopedia of Food Science and Technology, 2nd

edition. ISBN: 0-47119-285-6. New York: Wiley, 1999. (Cost $1500)
This standard reference for food scientists, bioengineers and biotechnolo-
gists includes several pages about functional foods clearly explaining what
they are. A table lists “Selective Functional Foods and Bioactive Food Ingredi-
ents and Their Health Benefits.” It also includes information on current nutra-
ceutical trends and a bibliography.
Mahon, Kathleen L. ed. Krause’s Food Nutrition and Diet Therapy. 10th edi-
tion. ISBN: 0-72167-904-8. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2000. (Cost $72)
The tenth edition of this classic text contains brief but clear information on
functional foods and a section on phytochemicals.
Sadler, Michelle. Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition. ISBN: 0-12226-694-3.

Academic Press. San Diego: Academic Press, 1999. (Cost $310)
This comprehensive encyclopedia of all aspects of human nutrition has a
brief chapter on functional foods. Besides providing an overview of health
claims for these foods, also offered is a presentation of regulations from an in-
ternational perspective. Tables and a bibliography are provided. This encyclo-
pedia is for clinicians, students and policy makers.
Vishwanath, Sardesai, Introduction to Clinical Nutrition. ISBN: 0-82479-865-1.

New York: Marcel Dekker. 1998. (Cost $75.00)
This book is targeted to the undergraduate student, though the consumer
with some scientific background will grasp most aspects of the short chapter
on nutraceuticals. This volume is a good introduction for the novice reader of
nutraceutical information.
*Shils, Maurice E. ed. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th edition.
ISBN: 0-683-30769-x. Baltimore: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
(Cost $105)
The ninth edition of this comprehensive reference on basic and clinical nu-
trition includes a chapter on functional foods. Though the chapter offers infor-
mation on specific nutraceuticals in table format only, it is the most complete
of all nutrition texts in its discussion of the regulations, design and further re-
search needed in the field of functional foods. There is also a substantial dis-
cussion of the physiology of these food components, making this one of the
best nutrition textbooks for the reader seeking a basic understanding of func-
tional foods.
*Wildman, Robert C. & Medeiros, Denis, Advanced Human Nutrition. ISBN:

0-8493-8566-0. Boca Raton, Fl: CRC Press, 2000. (Cost $79.95)
This textbook for upper level students and professionals includes an entire
chapter on “Nutrition Supplements and Nutraceuticals.” After introductory
material, the author discusses several of the most prominent nutraceuticals,
providing an excellent introduction to the more common functional foods.
References are listed for each nutraceutical.
JOURNALS, MAGAZINES AND NEWSLETTERS
Several journals and newsletters have been started which are devoted solely
to the subject of nutraceuticals. To identify these, the author searched the data-
bases Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory and the Serials Directory
using the keywords “nutraceuticals” and “functional foods.” This section will
also briefly describe pharmacy and nutrition journals that publish articles on
nutraceuticals.
The bibliographic data in the entries contain the following items:
Title. ISSN. Frequency. *Price. Editor (if available). Publisher and Address.
Internet-WWW E-mail Peer-reviewed. Online-Full text; Indexed. Journals
have different pricing structures depending on whether there is an individual
subscription, institutional subscription or if the user has access to the On-
line-full text version. The prices given below are for individual print subscrip-
tions.
JANA: The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association. ISSN: 1521-4524.

1998. $36. Q. Christopher Foley and Allen Kratz. American Nutraceutical
Association, 5120 Selkirk Drive, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35242. <www.
Ana-Jana.org> <info@ana-jana.org> Peer-reviewed. Online-full text.
The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association publishes original

research in the field of functional foods containing approximately 8 to 15 arti-
cles per issue. This publication is easily comprehended and includes many ref-
erences. The review articles give extensive background on their subjects and
would be useful for a student beginning to read in the field. The Journal of the
American Nutraceutical Association is essential reading for anyone interested
in the science and business of nutraceuticals.
Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods: Innovations in re-

search, practice, commercialization & policy. ISSN: 1089-4179. 1997. Q.
$150. Nancy Childs and Robert Wildman. The Haworth Press, Inc., 10
Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13094. <http://www.haworthpressinc.com>
<getinfo@haworthpress.inc.com> Online-full text.
Indexed: Aquatic Sciences & Fisheries Abstracts [Computer File]: ASFA, Cu-
mulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, EMBASE [Online Da-
tabase], Food Science and Technology Abstracts.
The articles in this peer-reviewed journal cover all aspects of the study of
nutraceuticals, e.g., the effects of herbs on osteoarthritis in animals, regula-
tions for functional foods in Europe, how cranberry juice may promote cardio-
vascular health and the nutraceutical role of dietary fiber. Although the journal
is scholarly and intended for the food scientist, most of the articles are also of
interest to dieticians, pharmacists, other health professionals and the interested
consumer. This is an essential journal for anyone who wishes to keep abreast
of current developments in nutraceutical matters.
New Nutrition Business. ISSN: 1464-3308. 11x/yr. $655. Michael Herman

and Julian Mellenton. Centre for Food & Health Studies, Prospect House,
67 Boston Manor Road, Brentford, TW9 9JQ, UK. <www.new-nutrition.
com/> <miranda.mills@new-nutrition.com> Online-full text.
This British journal is recommended for an international audience. It pro-
vides a gathering point for the latest news and research in the functional food
industry. An unusual feature of this journal is that it summarizes medical re-
search, listing the original studies. Case studies are presented on both corpo-
rate and national levels. Although the journal concentrates heavily upon the
business aspects of nutraceuticals, scientists will also want to read this to keep
abreast of industry trends.
Nutraceuticals International. ISSN: 1362-5411. 1996. M. Marketletter

(Publications) Ltd., 54 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE, United Kingdom,
1996. £399.00. <http://www.marketletter.com/> <pharmaletter@marketletter.
com> Online-full text.
Nutraceuticals International is a monthly newsletter specially designed to
collate worldwide news and views relating to global nutraceuticals, functional
foods, dietary supplements and the natural products industry. The publication
presents short readable articles covering the most recent developments in the
nutraceutical industry, including marketing news and summaries of medical
studies on herbs and supplements. The reporting is objective, covering both
positive and negative studies on nutraceuticals and phytochemicals. This peri-
odical is recommended for anyone in the business of nutraceuticals wishing to
remain informed of legal decisions and marketing trends.
Nutraceuticals World: Serving the Dietary Supplement, Functional Food

and Nutritional Beverage Industries. ISSN:1531-0671. 8x/yr $75. Ellen
Schutt. Rodman Publishing Corporation, 70 Hilltop Road, Ramsey, NJ
07446. <http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com> <nutraceuticals@rodpub.com>
Nutraceuticals World is an attractive magazine that is accessible to non-sci-
entists. It offers four to five feature articles, regular columns, industry news
and summaries of recent studies. Although the articles often ask more ques-
tions than they answer, those involved in the trade will want to be aware of the
issues raised by this publication, magazine. Selected articles from this publica-
tion may also be viewed on the magazine’s web site.
Nutrition Business Journal: Strategic Information for Decision Makers in

the Nutrition Industry. 1996. M. $795.00. Joy Warner. Nutrition Business
International, 4452 Park Boulevard, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92116.
<http://www.nutritionbusiness.com/> <info@nutritionbusiness.com> On-
line-full text.
Nutrition Business Journal provides in depth coverage of dietary supple-
ments, natural, functional and organic foods and nutraceuticals. Each issue fo-
cuses on a single theme: for example, past issues have covered the US organic
industry, functional beverages and sports nutrition. An annual issues reviews
the nutraceuticals of the year past. Although the focus is on market data, the
writing is clear, interesting and to the point. The text is amplified by many
well-constructed graphs and tables, yet the reader does not require a business
background to understand them. While the individual subscription price is
high, the data and analysis presented in each issue make this an invaluable
trade publication.
Nutrition Science News. M. $79. New Hope Natural Media, 1401 Pearl Street,
Boulder, CO 80302 United States. <http://www.nutritionsciencenews.com/>
<sales@newhope.com> Online-full text.
This magazine presents solid scientific information on vitamins, supple-
ments, nutraceuticals and functional foods in very attractive packaging. Most
articles contain scientific references. There are also shorter pieces on topics
such as the differences between nutrients and drugs or how antioxidants may
work. This publication also presents a “Nutraceutical of the Year” award. This
is a good publication for both the professional and general reader.
GENERAL NUTRITION JOURNALS
Almost all journals in nutrition, dietetics and food technology have begun
to include articles about functional foods and nutraceuticals. Ulrich’s Periodi-
cals Directory lists 688 journals in nutrition and dietetics and the following list
is highly selective. We have included the most common nutrition journals,
provided an idea of the area of nutraceuticals on which they concentrate and
each journal’s primary audience. For a complete list and description of nutri-
tion journals see Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory, the Serials Di-
rectory or the more selective Magazines for Libraries.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: A journal reporting the practical

application of our worldwide knowledge of nutrition. ISSN: 0002-9165.
1952. M. $140. Charles Halsted. American Society for Clinical Nutrition,

9650 Rockville Pike, Rm L-2310, Bethesda, MD 20814. <http://www.ajcn.org/>
<staff@dues.faseb.org> Peer-reviewed. Online-full text.
Indexed: Biological Abstracts; Biological & Agricultural Index; Chemical
Abstracts; Index Medicus; Food Science & Technology Abstracts; Nutrition
Abstracts and Reviews; Science Citation Index.
The American Society of Clinical Nutrition publishes clinical nutrition re-
search for the physician, dietitian and nurse and other scientists. The articles
on nutraceuticals tend to be general, for example, “Functional Foods: the US
perspective,”10 “Functional Foods: the Food and Drug Administration per-
spective”11 or “Bitter Tastes, Phytonutrients and the Consumer, a review.”12 A
solid background in basic sciences would be helpful in negotiating this jour-
nal’s highly technical content.
British Journal of Nutrition: An international journal of nutrition science.

ISSN: 0007-1145. 1947. M. $830. DAT Southgate. CABI Publishing,
Wallington, xon OX10 8DE, United Kingdom. <http://www.ingenta.com>
<publishing@cabi.org> Peer-reviewed. Online-full text.
This scholarly journal often publishes articles on nutraceuticals as they re-
late to nutritional concepts, e.g., the role of anti-xidents in the treatment of dis-
ease and the functional food values of certain sugars. Most issues contain one
or two book reviews.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association ISSN: 0002–8223. 1925. M.

$125. Elaine Monsen. American Dietetic Association, 216 W Jackson Boule-
vard, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. <http://www.eatright.org/journaltoc.html>
<journal@eatright.org> Peer-reviewed. Online-full text.
In addition to providing the American Dietetic Association’s official posi-

tion on functional foods, issues of this journal often include original studies
and review articles on nutraceuticals. Coverage ranges from “Prophylactic and

therapeutic uses of probiotic antibiotics: a review”13 to “Knowledge, attitudes
and practices of dieticians licensed in Oregon regarding functional foods, nu-
trient supplements and herbs as complementary medicine.”14 Although the
journal is written for the professional nutritionist, it contains much of interest
in other fields of food science.
Journal of Nutrition. ISSN: 0022-3166. M. $105. Willard Visek American

Institute of Nutrition, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814. <http://
www.nutrition.org> <jnutri@uiuc.edu> Peer-reviewed. Online-full text.
This scholarly journal publishes original research on all aspects of nutrition
including nutraceuticals and functional foods. It is aimed at the specialist and
also offers critical reviews and commentary.
Nutrition Action Health Letter. ISSN: 0885-7792. 1974. 10x/yr. $24. Ste-
phen Schmidt. Center for Science in the Public Interest, 1875 Connecticut
Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009. <http://www.cspinet.org/
nah/> <cspi.@cspinet.org> Online-full text.
Indexed: Agricola; Consumer Health & Nutrition Index; Cumulative Index to
Nursing & Allied Health.
This magazine, an organ of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, has
a strong editorial bias. Because of its strong advocacy of healthy food, this
publication reaches a wide audience. General consumers find its practical top-
ics, e.g., the selection of a multi-vitamin or on the evaluation of functional
foods, especially appealing. The writing is both interesting and enjoyable.
Even those opposed to this publication’s bias will still appreciate the wide va-
riety it offers of nutraceutical information.
Nutrition Reviews. ISSN: 0029-6643. 1942. M. $185. Irwin Rosenberg. Al-

len Press Inc., P.O. Box 7055, Lawrence, KS 66044. <http://www.ilsi.org>
<ilsi@allenpress.com> Peer-reviewed. Online-full text.


One of the more accessible peer-reviewed journals, Nutrition Reviews de-
voted an entire issue to “Forum and Workshop on Food, Phytochemicals and
Health.” Other issues regularly contain articles on dietary supplements and
functional foods.
PHARMACY AND MEDICAL JOURNALS
The coverage of alternative medicine topics has increased in pharmacy

journals. While pharmacy journals have always published vitamin research,
articles on nutraceuticals are a fairly new phenomenon. Two journals that have
regular columns on complementary and alternative therapies are US Pharma-
cist and Drug Topics. These columns often discuss nutraceuticals, are an effi-
cient means by which a pharmacist may stay informed of nutraceutical trends.
Scholarly pharmacy journals as well as mainstream medical journals are be-
ginning to publish scientific studies on nutraceuticals and functional foods.
The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published a review
article as well as an editorial entitled “Does an Apple a Day Help Keep Breast
Cancer Away?”15 on the relation between intake of fruit and vegetables and
breast cancer risk. Suggestions on how to find these and other articles are in-
cluded in the section on databases below.
NUTRACEUTICALS DATABASES AND WEB SITES
Topics related to nutraceuticals are becoming incorporated into more and

more streams of health sciences literature. As this guide to resources is dedi-
cated to assisting researchers access the increasingly scattered information
sources for nutraceuticals, this section provides an overview of indexes that
gather citations and/or make available full text journal and other materials.
Special emphasis in this section is placed on the search capabilities of the data-
bases below. Please note that prices are given for individual subscriptions only
(where available). Institutional prices vary depending upon institution size,
number of users and other factors.
1. Alt-Health Watch
www.softlineweb.com/softlineweb/althealth.htm
Access: fee-based access by subscription
Alt-Health Watch indexes the broad variety of resources in which alterna-

tive health information is found, including peer-reviewed and editor-reviewed
journals, newspaper excerpts, patient information pamphlets, newsletters and

magazines. Information may be searched through author/journal/subject au-
thorities. No standard authority information, however, is provided, e.g., no
scope notes, no “see references,” related terms, etc., are given in these files:
they function more as indexes. The Alt-Health Watch database may be searched
by natural language, keyword or subject. The most effective single subject
heading for articles on nutraceuticals in this database is: “Nutrition Ther-
apy–Neutraceuticals.” Other subject headings which yield relevant materials
on nutraceuticals are “Nutrition Therapy–Foods and Healing” and “Nutrition
Therapy–Functional Foods.” Among the indexed journals with the most fre-
quent nutraceutical citation and full text information are: Nutraceutical World,
Alive Magazine: Canadian Journal of Health and Nutrition, Nutrition Science
News and The Journal of Ecology and Natural Living. While Alt-Health Watch
is intended for the academic or professional searcher, the informed general
consumer may find a great deal of useful information here as well.
2. American Nutraceutical Association

http://www.americanutra.com/ishop/index.html#reprints
Access: free (however limited without membership)
Not a traditional database as such, the American Nutraceutical Association
website is rather a gateway for both individual and professional members to in-
formation on nutraceutical educational materials and continuing education
programs. Individual membership in this association provides direct access to
the following information: quarterly news on updates on the nutraceutical in-
dustry, a reduced subscription rate for the peer-reviewed Journal of the Ameri-
can Nutraceutical Association (though the subscription is free for Healthcare
Professional level subscribers); reduced rates on educational and video pro-
grams and discounts on American Nutraceutical Association continuing edu-
cation courses. In addition to providing its members with timely updates and
research information through its online Grapevine E-Archive and the current
Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association table of contents, the
American Nutraceutical Association also provides a channel to political and
legislative groups, advisory councils and more. The American Nutraceutical
Association also makes expert speakers available for seminars and classes in
preventative health care. This database is unique in that it provides the inter-
ested professional or individual with a forum for both nutraceutical reading
and discourse.
3. Facts and Comparisons E-Facts Online

http://www.factsandcomparisons.com
Access: fee-based through subscription only. (Individual Cost: $329)

Available in online, CD-ROM and intranet formats, Facts and Compari-
sons E-Facts Online are among the Wolters Kluwer Science and Technology
publishing groups. This index of editor-composed monographs is excellent for
searching specific nutraceuticals. While providing its monographs informa-
tion in the easy-to-negotiate fact sheet format of the Natural Medicines Com-
prehensive Database, Facts and Comparisons E-Facts Online packages its
search results in a more narrative, essay-like style. Monographs on individual
nutraceuticals include the following headings: scientific name, common names,
botany, history, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, a summary and refer-
ences. Added value for a nutraceuticals search is provided in each monograph
through the section “Drug Interaction Facts.” While full bibliographies are
provided at the end of each monograph with links to selected abstracts, these
works are not signed and individual editorial board names are not provided.
Both simple (keyword) and advanced (fields) searching capabilities are al-
lowed. While there is no Facts and Comparisons thesaurus or controlled sub-
ject vocabulary, there is an excellent brand name/category authority file to
facilitate searching.
4. Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals

http://www.agr.ca/food/markets/nutraceu/enutrace.html
Access: free
This free site is maintained by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Food
Bureau and its contents are available in both French and English languages.
Similar to the American Nutraceutical Association Web site (above), this site
is a gateway to information about the industry, research and marketing of
nutraceuticals. The Canadian Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals database
organizes its information under the following groupings: Documents under
which the full-text of Canadian and other selected international regulations are
gathered; (2) Industry/Market Environment which collates links to Canadian
and American Associations, patents offices, etc.; (3) Regulatory Environment
which directs the reader to regulatory news from both Canada as well as the
United States; (4) Research which lists both federal and provincial government
research bodies as well as direct links to the web pages of universities and in-
stitutes actively researching nutraceuticals; and (5) Consumer Information for
members of the interested public, e.g., transcripts of related Canadian Broad-
cast Commission radio programs, position statements by Canadian and Ameri-
can food agencies, links to commodity associations and full text references,
etc. Updated frequently, this database provides an excellent, well-organized

collection of materials dealing with the business end of the nutraceutical in-
dustry.
5. Health Reference Center Academic

http://www.galegroup.com
Access: fee-based through subscription only
Published by InfoTrac of the Gale Group, Health Reference Center Aca-
demic indexes materials from general interest as well as peer-reviewed sources.
Health Reference Center Academic is also available on CD-ROM. Addi-
tionally, Health Reference Center Academic indexes magazines, 700 full text
pamphlets, newspaper excerpts from the Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Ser-
vice, topical overviews from Clinical Reference Systems, as well as reference
books. In 2001, Health Reference Center Academic plans also to increase its
coverage of alternative medical topics. This database is intended for use by
nursing and allied health students as well as by the general consumer.
Health Reference Center Academic provides interfiled scholarly as well as
popular information. The interfiling of different forms and levels of informa-
tion can be frustrating, requiring another step of discernment, value is added to
searching through the identification of the material format, e.g., periodical,
reference book, etc., at the first page of a results summary. In addition to tradi-
tional author, journal, title, etc., searching, subject searching is facilitated by a
subject guide, though this guide provides no definitions of terms or scope
notes. A search for “nutraceuticals” is referred to the controlled vocabulary
term “Functional Foods.” REFERENCES are provided to related subjects,
e.g., “Enriched Foods” as well as to subject subdivisions, e.g., “Therapeutic
uses.” This is an excellent database for searching broad concepts such as
“nutraceuticals,” though more specific searches on particular types of func-
tional foods could be conducted more efficiently on other databases. Available
for both graphical and character-based interfaces.
6. International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements

Access: free
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov
This database is produced and maintained by the Office of Dietary Supple-
ments at the National Institute of Health. Its goal is to reach the full spectrum
of information seekers, health care providers and consumers alike. The Inter-
national Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements database collates
and makes searchable citations and abstracts to peer-reviewed scientific litera-
ture. International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements is up-

dated quarterly. Full text information is not provided through this database.
However, for the searcher without access to a health sciences library or docu-
ment delivery service, International Bibliographic Information on Dietary
Supplements offers a journal list of 1600 journals titles as well as their web ad-
dresses from which the articles may be obtained. As suggested by the title, this
database provides information on individual nutraceuticals only: it is not a tool
by which to search for the broader concepts of nutraceuticals or functional
foods. Assisting searchers of all levels of expertise, International Biblio-
graphic Information on Dietary Supplements provides several means of sub-
ject access. Most useful is the “keywords by alphabetical list of common
names” index by which the general consumer may search for “cranberry” or
“fiber” or “olive leaf.” The list itself provides different spellings of the com-
mon name, e.g., both “beeswax” and “bee’s wax,” as well as, where applica-
ble, the chemical name, biological compounds and Latin binomial. Other
subject lists for the advanced or professional searcher are “Keywords by Clas-
sification,” “Vitamins,” “Minerals,” “Amino Acids” and Herbal and Botanical
Supplements (by botanical name). The International Bibliographic Informa-
tion on Dietary Supplements works with most browsers to facilitate searches
through the browser FIND button. This database is Boolean capable and terms
may also be truncated. Searches may be limited by field. While International
Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements’ citation only information
may be a deterrent for some users, those who do make use of the thesaurus-like
indexes and user-friendly search interfaces will find themselves directed to a
wealth of scholarly information on individual nutraceuticals.
7. MD Consult
http://www.mdconsult.com/
Access: registration is required for password access to this database. (Individ-
ual Cost: $199.99)
MD Consult is the joint venture of over 50 health science publishers and or-
ganizations, including Mosby’s, W.B. Saunders Company and Lippincott Wil-
liams and Wilkins.
This database provides many access points to nutraceutical information.
One may browse through the weekly updated “Alternative Medicine” section
from the home page for articles related to this topic. A general browse of this
section yields much information for the nutraceutical researcher, e.g., articles
on the functional merits of tea tree oil, grapefruit, echinacea, etc. The MD
Consult home page also features special sections such as “Today in Medicine”
and “What Patients are Reading” in which popular nutraceutical information
may frequently be found. While initially the dense interface may be daunting,
it is also possible to search by information form, e.g., searching for journal lit-
erature only, reference book excerpts only, etc. A search for “nutraceuticals”
within the journals file produced 59 articles from various scholarly publica-
tions. Results were organized by full text availability. Best results on nutra-
ceuticals are from the journals section. Citations within the MD Consult
journals file are also provided from CANCERLit, MEDLINE, AIDSLINE,
HealthSTAR. The database is targeted to the practitioner rather than the gen-
eral consumer, therefore the user must bring some knowledge of nutraceuticals
to the search. Because nutraceutical information is a relatively minor compo-
nent of this database, many unique features of MD Consult are not applicable
to searches on or about nutraceuticals. For instance, as nutraceuticals are not a
subject as such, the searcher must know alternative terminology term by which
the information may be found, e.g., there is no “see reference” from “Nutra-
ceuticals” to “Functional Foods.” Also, the MD Consult patient information
sheet template may not be applied to nutraceutical information. Recom-
mended for the health practitioner who wishes to place information about
nutraceutical therapy within the broader complementary and alternative as
well as allopathic contexts.
8. Micromedex Health Care Series

http://www.mdx.com
Access: fee-based through subscription only
Published by Health Communications Network, the Micromedex Health
Care Series provides direct searching access to the following database groups:
Summary Documents, Drug Information, Toxicology Information, Acute Care
and Emergency Medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Re-
productive Risk. These groups may be searched simultaneously using the data-
base’s Integrated Index search feature. While this database is not suitable for
searching nutraceutical information under broad concepts or terms, it is highly
effective for searching individual nutraceuticals. Collating database information
ranging from 1974 to the present, the Micromedex Health Care Series provides
sophisticated search capabilities for efficient information retrieval, including
multiple keyword, exact term and synonyms searching. It is also possible to
search by individual categories by selecting checkboxes of the desired catego-
ries. For example, an Integrated Index search for cranberry yielded 1 summary
document, 2 articles classified as drug information, 1 classified as a toxicology
information citation and 1 classified as a Complementary and Alternative
Medicine AltMedDex Evaluation. Full text links are provided for search re-
sults. The information in MD Consult may be searched and packaged for all
levels of interest and training. While excellent documentation and help is
available for this database, the beginning searcher may require the assistance
of a librarian or other information professional.
9. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database

http://www.Naturaldatabase.com
Access: Password authenticated access is sold to be used by one person or
computer. (Individual Cost: $92)
Authority: Composed by the team, whose names are listed on a contact link,
of pharmacists, physicians, dieticians and pharmacologists, originally in-
volved in the production of the Pharmacist’s Letter and Physician’s Letter. Series
of monographs composed by the editorial team-complete with references-on
natural or herbal medicines and supplements. What makes this a good resource
for the nutraceutical information seeker is that the database gives fully re-
searched information sheets on the products searched. Unlike many databases,
the fulltext records/monographs are composed by practitioners rather than by
indexers. Each monograph collates the following information for each where
applicable: name, also known as, scientific name, product usage, safety assess-
ment, effectiveness assessment, active ingredients, reactions, interactions,
drug influences, typical dosages, comments and references or bibliographies.
This database may be searched by name of a product, brand, ingredient, sup-
plement name, etc.; by keyword in specific fields and by an alphabetical list of
products. Searches may also be performed within the full text of the mono-
graph. This database is updated daily, rendering it much more timely than the
print version, especially for the user researching new brands. The average
length of each monograph is 4 pages, with links provided for feedback, refer-
ences and brand names containing searched ingredient. The goal of Natural
Medicines Comprehensive Database is primarily to provide physicians and
other health practitioners with information on natural remedies and their use.
As this database uses exclusively professional terminology and shorthand, it
ought not to be selected by the lay consumer.
CONCLUSION
The use of nutraceuticals continues to grow, making it essential that health

care practitioners know what information is available, as well as where and
how that information may be found. It is vital, too, that health care providers be
aware of that their clients and consumers are often accessing the same infor-
mation as they. This article provides descriptions on individual information re-
sources in order to facilitate the selection of appropriate resources in this
growing field for all levels of expertise. It is our wish that this guide will be
used by scientists, health care practitioners, consumers, librarians, and people
in the food service industry as a gateway to timely, reliable nutraceutical infor-

mation.
REFERENCES
1. The American heritage dictionary of the english language (4 th ed.). Houghton

Mifflin, Boston, MA, USA, 2000.
2. American Nutracetuical Association. Welcome to JANA. 2000. Retrieved February
1, 2001 from the World Wide Web:URL: http://www.americanutra.com/janawelcome.
html, 2000.
3. American Dietetics Association. Position of the american dietetic association:
Functional foods. J Amer Dietet Assoc, 99 (10): 1278-1285, 1999.
4. Wildman REC and Medeiros DM. Nutrition supplements and Nutraceuticals,
In: Advanced Human Nutrition, CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, 2000.
5. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel MS, Wilkey S, Van Rompey M and
Kessler RC. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: Re-
sults of a follow-up national survey. JAMA, 280:1569-1575, 1998.
6. Chavis LM. Pharmacy-based consulting on dietary supplements. J Amer Pharma-
ceut Assoc, 41(2):181-189, 2001.
7. PDR for Nutritional Supplements. (2001). Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics
Company.
8. Jackson E. An overview of information resources for herbal medicinals and
dietary substances. J Herb Pharmacother, 1 (1): 35-61, 2001.
9. Defelice, Stephen L. Nutraceuticals: Developing, claiming and marketing med-
ical foods. Marcel Dekker, New York, 1998
10. Milner JA. Functional foods: The US perspective. Amer J Clin Nutr, 71:
1654S-1659S, 2000.
11. Ross S. Functional foods: The Food and Drug Administration perspective.
Amer J Clin Nutrit, 71: 1735S-1738S, 2000.
12. Drewnowski A and Gomez-Carneros C. Bitter tastes, phytonutrients, and the
consumer: A review. Amer J Clin Nutrit, 72:1424-1435, 2000.
13. Koop-Hoolihan, L. Prophylactic and therapeutic uses of probiotics: A review.
J Amer Dietet Assoc, 101: 229-238, 2001.
14. Lee YK, Georfiou C and Raab C. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of di-
eticians licensed in Oregon regarding functional foods, nutrient supplements, and
herbs as complementary medicine. J Amer Dietet Assoc, 100:543-548, 2000.
15. Slattery, ML. Does an apple a day keep breast cancer away? JAMA 285(6):
799-801, 2001.
Received: May 28, 2001

Accepted: July 3, 2001

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Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods

ISSN: 1089-4179 (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ijds19

Selected Information Resources for Nutraceuticals

Natalie Kupferberg & Jane Duffy

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J133v03n04_07

Published online: 16 Jul 2015.

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Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at

ABSTRACT. The use of alternative and integrative medicine has grown

KEYWORDS. Nutraceuticals, dietary supplement, information resources

Natalie Kupferberg is Assistant Professor, and Pharmacy Librarian at the Biologi-

recommend to their patients.7 In this age of informed health care consumers,

*American Nutraceutical Association. Nutraceuticals: The Complete Encyclope-

thin in parts, yet it provides useful background information on nutraceuticals

Murray, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements: The Essential

pared, edited and approved by the professional staff of the manufacturer of

*PDR for Nutritional Supplements. ISBN: 1-56363-364-7. Montvale, NJ:

Defelice, Stephen L., ed. Nutraceuticals: Developing, Claiming and Mar-

ference material, it is important nonetheless as it clearly explains the regulatory

Goldberg, Israel, ed. Functional Foods, Designer Foods, Pharmafoods,

Schmidl, Mary K. & Labuza, Theodore P. Essentials of Functional Foods.

*Wildman, Robert, ed. Handbook of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods.

clinicians, researchers, food scientists and students.

Francis, Frederic John. Encyclopedia of Food Science and Technology, 2nd

Sadler, Michelle. Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition. ISBN: 0-12226-694-3.

pedia is for clinicians, students and policy makers.

Vishwanath, Sardesai, Introduction to Clinical Nutrition. ISBN: 0-82479-865-1.

*Wildman, Robert C. & Medeiros, Denis, Advanced Human Nutrition. ISBN:

JOURNALS, MAGAZINES AND NEWSLETTERS

The bibliographic data in the entries contain the following items:

JANA: The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association. ISSN: 1521-4524.

The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association publishes original

Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods: Innovations in re-

New Nutrition Business. ISSN: 1464-3308. 11x/yr. $655. Michael Herman

Nutraceuticals International. ISSN: 1362-5411. 1996. M. Marketletter

Nutraceuticals World: Serving the Dietary Supplement, Functional Food

Nutrition Business Journal: Strategic Information for Decision Makers in

GENERAL NUTRITION JOURNALS

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: A journal reporting the practical

1952. M. $140. Charles Halsted. American Society for Clinical Nutrition,

British Journal of Nutrition: An international journal of nutrition science.

Journal of the American Dietetic Association ISSN: 0002–8223. 1925. M.

In addition to providing the American Dietetic Association’s official posi-

and review articles on nutraceuticals. Coverage ranges from “Prophylactic and

Journal of Nutrition. ISSN: 0022-3166. M. $105. Willard Visek American

Nutrition Reviews. ISSN: 0029-6643. 1942. M. $185. Irwin Rosenberg. Al-

Indexed: Biological Abstracts; Biological & Agricultural Index; Chemical

Abstracts and Reviews; Science Citation Index.

PHARMACY AND MEDICAL JOURNALS

The coverage of alternative medicine topics has increased in pharmacy

NUTRACEUTICALS DATABASES AND WEB SITES

Topics related to nutraceuticals are becoming incorporated into more and

Alt-Health Watch indexes the broad variety of resources in which alterna-

journals, newspaper excerpts, patient information pamphlets, newsletters and

2. American Nutraceutical Association

3. Facts and Comparisons E-Facts Online

Access: fee-based through subscription only. (Individual Cost: $329)

4. Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals

etc. Updated frequently, this database provides an excellent, well-organized

5. Health Reference Center Academic

6. International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements