Wajid Khan Yunus Khan, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci.

, 2025, Vol 3, Issue 01, 94-101 |Review

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
[ISSN: 0975-4725; CODEN(USA): IJPS00]
Journal Homepage: https://www.ijpsjournal.com

Review Article

Impact Of Nutraceuticals in Managing Cardiovascular Diseases and

Diabetes Mellitus
Wajid Khan Yunus Khan*, S. V. Ganjiwale, S. J. Dighade, Atif Ahemad Shakeel
Ahemad

Institute of Pharmacy & Research, Anjangaon Bari Road, Badnera-Amravati.

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Published: 02 Jan. 2025 Nutraceuticals, including dietary supplements, functional foods, and bioactive
Keywords: compounds derived from natural sources, hold immense potential in managing chronic
Nutraceuticals, CVDs, DM, diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes mellitus (DM). This
Bioactive compound, review highlights their multifaceted roles, emphasizing therapeutic benefits and
Antioxidant. advantages over conventional pharmaceutical interventions. Nutraceuticals are broadly
DOI: categorized into nutrients, herbals, enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics, all of which
10.5281/zenodo.14586261 contribute to health promotion and disease prevention. For CVDs, nutraceuticals target
modifiable risk factors like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. Bioactive
substances such as omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, and Coenzyme Q10 exhibit anti-
inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help mitigate these risks. In diabetes
management, nutraceuticals such as chromium, alpha-lipoic acid, fenugreek, cinnamon,
and berberine have shown efficacy in improving glucose metabolism, enhancing insulin
sensitivity, and reducing complications.Nutraceuticals are increasingly preferred due to
their minimal adverse effects, cost-effectiveness, and ease of availability. They
represent a natural, holistic approach to disease management, bridging the gap between
nutrition and medicine. By addressing underlying causes and reducing dependence on
costly pharmaceutical treatments, nutraceuticals offer a safer and sustainable alternative
for individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. This review underscores their
potential to transform chronic disease management, combining science and nature for
improved health outcomes.

INTRODUCTION provide medical or health benefits, including the

Nutraceuticals, a term coined by Dr. Stephen prevention and treatment of illness. They include
DeFelice in 1989, are foods or parts of foods that medical foods, nutritional supplements, and dietary
*Corresponding Author: Wajid Khan Yunus Khan
Address: Institute of Pharmacy & Research, Anjangaon Bari Road, Badnera-Amravati.
Email : wajidkhan735077@gmail.com
Relevant conflicts of interest/financial disclosures: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of
any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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supplements, and are marketed in concentrated various therapeutic categories, including anti-
forms such as pills, capsules, powders, and arthritic, cold and cough, sleep disorders, digestion,
tinctures. Nutraceuticals are used as supplemental and cancer prevention. They are recognized as
foods to provide long-term benefits and aid in the beneficial sources of health promotion, especially
treatment of disease states. The global for preventing life-threatening diseases like
nutraceuticals market is growing, with an expected diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, renal, and
value of $250 billion by 2018. Nutraceuticals cover gastrointestinal disorders.[1]

Figure No.1:- Concept of Nutraceuticals

Scope of Nutraceuticals: Nutraceuticals, such as (i) Nutrients: Nutrients like amino acids, fatty
dietary fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, acids, minerals, and vitamins play essential roles in
polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and maintaining health. Vitamins treat conditions like
herbal natural foods, are used to treat various osteoporosis, while minerals prevent and
diseases like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, strengthen bones. PUFAs regulate inflammation
cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, and and brain function.
cholesterol. They lead to a new era of medicine and (ii) Herbals: Herbal nutraceuticals promote
health, with the food industry becoming a research- wellness and prevent chronic illnesses with anti-
oriented sector. Dietary supplements are used to inflammatory, astringent, analgesic, antipyretic,
supplement calories, while functional foods offer and antiarthritic properties. Flavonoids and tannins
health benefits beyond traditional nutrients, help manage asthma, colds, stress, coughing,
containing physiologically active ingredients from depression, and high blood pressure.
plant or animal sources.[2] (iii) Phytochemicals: Phytochemicals, plant-based
Classification of Nutraceuticals: Nutraceuticals compounds like lutein and lycopene, are essential
can be classified based on different criteria, such as for human biochemical processes and
their source, chemical composition, mode of action, neuroprotective, supporting brain chemical
and health benefits. Here are some common equilibrium and lowering cancer, heart disease, and
classifications: neurological diseases risk.[3]
❖ Based On Products Available In Market:- B) Nutraceutical Enzymes:
I) Traditional Nutraceuticals: Natural, non- Enzymes, essential for life, are sourced from
modified foods like tomatoes, grapefruit, guava, microorganisms, plants, and animals. Consuming
papaya, and water watermelon are rich in enzyme supplements can alleviate symptoms of
antioxidant properties, potentially preventing medical diseases like blood sugar disorders,
cancers, while conventional nutraceuticals are digestive issues, and obesity.
categorized according to their composition. C) Probiotic Microorganisms:
A) Chemical Constituents:

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Probiotics are lifelong microorganisms that support A) Fortified Nutraceuticals: Supplements, such
healthy digestion and nutrition absorption, drive as cereals, milk, flour, and orange juice, are derived
out pathogens, and create a beneficial symbiosis from agricultural breeding and are used to provide
with the human gastrointestinal tract when ingested essential nutrients and nutraceuticals.
in moderation. B) Recombinant Nutraceuticals: Recombinant
II) Non Traditional Nutraceuticals: Non- nutraceuticals, produced through genetic
traditional nutraceuticals, artificially produced engineering, enzyme/fermentation technology, and
foods, enhance health and quality through probiotic production, contain bioactive components
biotechnology or agricultural breeding, categorized and are used in energy-rich foods like bread, wine,
into fortified and recombinant nutraceuticals based and lactoferrin.[4]
on processing techniques. ❖ Based on food source:- [5]

The Role of Nutraceuticals in Disease left ventricular hypertrophy, and heart failure.
Management: CVDs are diseases influenced by lifestyle choices
The role of nutraceuticals in fallowing disease and unmodifiable risk factors. Non-modifiable
conditions: factors include gender, age, ethnicity, and family
❖ Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) history. Modifiable factors include body weight,
❖ Diabetes mellitus (DM) dietary habits, physical activity, alcohol
Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): consumption, stress, obesity, diabetes,
[6]
Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Dietary
the primary cause of death. It is commonly factors play a significant role in the
recognized that the primary causes of pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
cardiovascular complications include major and have been less thoroughly studied than
cardiovascular risk factors, including advanced traditional cardiovascular risk factors (Table:1).
age, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia,
Table No.1: Cardiovascular risk factor
Sr. No Category Examples
1. Nonmodifiable risk ▪ Advancing age
factor ▪ Male gender
▪ Family history/genotype
2. Metabolic risk factors ▪ Hypertension

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▪ Hyperlipidemia
▪ Diabetes mellitus
▪ Metabolic syndrome
▪ Obesity/overweight
3. Lifestyle risk factors ▪ Diet
▪ Smoking
▪ Physical activity
4. Novel risk factors ▪ Elevated homocysteine level
▪ Elevated lipoprotein (a) level
▪ Small dense LDL-C
▪ Elevated inflammatory marker levels
▪ Elevated hemostatic factors levels

❖ Types of Cardiovascular Diseases & Role of A recent meta-analysis of 70 RCTs found that
Nutraceuticals: consuming omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Hypertension: Hypertension (HTN), which is (0.3-15 g/day) for 4–26 weeks can reduce blood
characterized as a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) pressure by 4.5 mmHg and 3.0 mmHg in untreated
of more than 90 mmHg or a systolic blood pressure hypertensive individuals and normotensive
(SBP) of more than 140 mmHg, is a serious and individuals, with EFSA stating that 3 g/day of EPA
rapidly developing global health issue. and DHA is necessary for the effect. [8]
➢ Nutraceuticals in Hypertension: Heart Failure: Heart failure is a condition
i) Flavonoids: Flavonoids, found in various characterized by reduced myocardial contractility,
plants, have gained interest for their antioxidant affecting the heart’s ability to pump enough blood
properties and potential health benefits. They are to meet body needs. The frequency of heart failure
found in cruciferous vegetables, onions,black is increasing as the population ages, with the most
grapes, red wine, grapefruits, apples, cherries, and common causes being valvopathies,
berries. Flavonoids, including flavones, cardiomyopathies, hypertension, myocardial
flavonones, silybin, flavonols, and rutin, play a ischemia, and myocardial infarction.
significant role in treating cardiovascular diseases. ➢ Nutraceuticals in Heart Failure (HF):
They decrease platelet stickiness, suppress ACE, i) Hawthorn: Hawthorn extract, derived from
fortify capillaries, and lower estrogen-induced Crataegus monogyna and Oxyacantha, is a
malignancies.[7] nutraceutical therapy for cardiovascular health due
ii) Quercetin: Quercetin is an effective to its bioactive ingredients, including antioxidants,
antihypertensive chemical that can scavenge blood inotropic agents, coronary vasodilators, and anti-
pressure, maintain blood pressure levels, and act as inflammatory agents. Its flavonoids, particularly
an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It can also oligomeric procyanidins, have protective effects
downregulate the autonomic nerve system, a on the cardiovascular system. Hawthorn extract
primary source of hypertension. Quercetin can has been shown to improve endothelial calcium
control blood volume by lowering fluid content levels and lipid metabolism. It is recommended to
and decreasing ENaC gene expression, which in be taken in two or three daily doses.[9]
turn reduces sodium reabsorption in the kidney. ii) D-Ribose: Heart diseases, such as heart failure,
iii) Omega‑3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (n‑3 are more likely to occur when there is a deficiency
PUFAs): in phosphate and ATP. D-ribose supplementation
can raise ATP levels in an animal model of

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ischemic injury, alleviating diastolic dysfunction HDL levels, resulting in a 12% drop in cholesterol
caused by ischemia. A clinical trial showed that in healthy men. It has potential pharmacodynamic
patients with NYHA II-IV improved tissue mechanisms, including downregulating AR
doppler velocity and early diastolic filling velocity receptors in atherosclerosis. Curcumin has been
in half of the patients after six weeks of D-ribose shown to improve cholesterol and LDL levels in
treatment.[10] patients with acute coronary syndrome. Clinical
iii) Coenzyme Q10: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a research using 500 mg of curcumin showed a
chemical compound isolated from beef hearts in reduction in triglycerides and an increase in HDL-
1957, is found in all body cells but is concentrated c levels, but total cholesterol and LDL-c levels
in mitochondria. It is a necessary cofactor for remained unchanged.
oxidative phosphorylation, leading to ATP iii) Brassica: Brassica, a substance with intriguing
synthesis. Myocardial mitochondria contain the effects, has been shown to lower LDL oxidation
highest concentration of CoQ10, which plays a levels in rats and total serum cholesterol without
pathogenic role in heart failure. Bioavailability altering lipid profiles. Human studies have linked
varies based on factors like dosage, particle size, GST gene polymorphisms to brassica effects, with
formulation, release technique, and mode of lipid profile improvement observed in GSTT-1-
administration. Oral CoQ10 supplementation carrying participants. Clinical trials show
improves heart failure symptoms, including significant reductions in cholesterol levels.
improved heart function and quality of life. iv) Resveratrol: RES, when combined with other
Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is a chronic medications like statins, effectively addresses
inflammatory disorder characterized by the atherosclerotic disease by downregulating HMG-
accumulation of lipid-loaded fibrous plaques CoA reductase, lowering blood LDL cholesterol
within the arterial wall, causing thrombus levels, and promoting antioxidant qualities. It also
development. It affects the heart, brain, lower reduces hepatocyte LDL receptor expression,
limbs, and intestines. Atherosclerosis is a major reducing smooth cell migration, and achieving a
health issue in industrialized nations and is linked 20% ox-LDL and 4.5%LDL cholesterol drop.[12]
to significant diseases like angina pectoris, heart Diabetes Mellitus (DM): Diabetes mellitus (DM)
attacks, and stroke. Preventive measures include is a chronic metabolic disease causing high blood
quitting smoking, reducing stress, eating well, glucose levels due to insulin deficiency. It affects
exercising, maintaining blood pressure, and 2.8% of the global population and can lead to long-
maintaining blood sugar levels.[11] term complications. Type 2 diabetes is a common
➢ Nutraceuticals in Atherosclerosis: metabolic disease, often caused by insulin
i) Quercetin: Quercetin, found in various fruits deficiency in pancreatic β-cells and loss of insulin
and vegetables, has been shown to have anti- secretory capacity. Diabetes is the most common
inflammatory properties, lowering CRP levels and cause of death among adults aged 20-79, with an
preventing atherosclerosis. It also decreases low- estimated prevalence of 643 million by 2030 and
density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and prevents 783 million by 2045. Nutraceuticals, which
macrophages from oxidizing LDL in obese contain naturally occurring functional foods and
individuals. These effects involve SIRT1 bioactive phytochemicals, are being considered as
activation. a new approach to diabetes prevention and
ii) Curcumin: Curcumin is a potent anti- management.[13]
atherosclerotic nutraceutical that lowers LDL and Types of Diabetes Mellitus:

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Diabetes can be divided into three main groups: b) Herbals: Plant materials in the form of extracts
type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. and concentrates.
1) Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM): T1DM, a) Nutrients:
also known as Insulin-Dependent Diabetes i) Chromium: A trace element called chromium
Mellitus (IDDM), is a type of diabetes caused may be require in diabetics.Supplemental
by damage to pancreatic β-cells, resulting in chromium may help individuals with type 2
insulin deficiency. Treatment involves insulin diabetes mellitus tolerate glucose better and
injections, and can affect young people. become more sensitive to insulin, according to
2) Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM): Non- certain theories. A moderate but substantial
insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) is a increase in glycaemic control was observed in the
metabolic disorder characterized by latter group, according to a meta-analysis of
hyperglycemia, insulin shortage, and randomized controlled trials examining the effects
resistance, affecting glucose homeostasis and of chromium supplementation on glucose and
insufficient insulin production. insulin response in healthy adults and those with
3) Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Pregnant diabetes. The official stance of the American
women who do not already have diabetes may Diabetes Association is that there is conflicting
develop gestational diabetes. At the conclusion information about the advantages of chromium
of the third or the start of the fourth month of supplementation in the treatment of diabetes.[15]
pregnancy, this typically occurs. Usually, after ii) α- Lipoic Acid: Lipoic acid, found naturally,
birth, this problem goes away. The body’s has a strong ROS scavenging action and
utilization of glucose is impacted. In order to antioxidant properties. It chelates transition
grow and provide energy, bodily cells need metals, promotes antioxidant regeneration, and
glucose as fuel. Obstetric blood sugar functions as a redox pair. It can increase insulin
imbalances can pose a serious risk to the sensitivity by 18-20% in type 2 diabetes patients.
mother and unborn child.[14] b) Herbals:
➢ Nutraceuticals in Diabetes Mellitus: i) Fenugreek: Dried Trigonella foenum-graecum
Nutraceuticals, traditionally containing seeds, which belong to the Fabaceae
minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, family.Fenugreek seeds, rich in soluble fiber,
vitamins, and other nutrients, are often used for protein, and flavonoids, are a popular herb for
diabetic treatments due to their effectiveness, treating type 2 diabetes. They inhibit alpha-
low adverse effects, and affordability. amylase activity, limit glucose uptake, slow
❖ Categories of nutraceuticals and their role intestinal transit, and delay digestion. Fenugreek
in diabetes: also affects postprandial glucose absorption and
Nutraceuticals are biological medicines that are boosts insulin secretion in pancreatic islets,
non-specific and are used to control symptoms, according to in vitro tests.[16]
prevent malignant processes, and promote ii) Cinnamon: Cinnamon, derived from the inner
wellness. These can be divided into the two main bark of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum and
categories listed below. Cinnamomum Cassia, has medicinal benefits like
a) Nutrients: Nutrients are substances, such as anti-diabetes and insulin sensitivity. It inhibits
vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids, intestinal sucrase, pancreatic amylase, and α-
that have been shown to have nutritional value. glucosidase activities, reducing carbohydrate
digestion and absorption in diabetic rats.

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iii) Curcuma Longa: Curcumin, a curcuminoid durable and inexpensive bridge between nutrition
found in curcuma Longa, has anti-diabetic and medicine. Thus, nutraceuticals represent a
benefits. It inhibits glucose synthesis in diabetic promising future in chronic disease management,
millitus rats by increasing AMPK expression. reducing the dependency on costly
Curcumin also enhances liver glycogen storage pharmaceuticals while providing safer, more
and glucokinase activity, suppressing glucose- natural therapeutic options for individuals
6phosphatase and PEPCK enzymes. It also suffering from cardiovascular diseases and
decreases glycogen synthase phosphorylation in diabetes mellitus.
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HOW TO CITE: Wajid Khan Yunus Khan*, S. V.
Ganjiwale, S. J. Dighade, Atif Ahemad Shakeel Ahemad,
Impact Of Nutraceuticals in Managing Cardiovascular
Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci.,
2025, Vol 3, Issue 01, 94-101.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14586261

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