Introduction: Nutraceuticals encompass vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, phytochemicals and functional foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. For B.Pharm students, understanding types of nutraceutical products—such as dietary supplements, fortified foods, botanicals, omega‑3 formulations and standardized herbal extracts—and their mechanisms (antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, lipid‑lowering, gut‑modulating) is essential for formulation, quality control, safety assessment and evidence‑based counselling. Key topics include bioavailability, standardization, clinical efficacy, adverse interactions and regulatory frameworks (GRAS, FSSAI, FDA). This concise guide also covers dosage forms, stability, analytical testing and patient counselling skills. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What best defines a nutraceutical?
- A pharmaceutical drug developed from herbs
- A food-derived product providing health benefits beyond basic nutrition
- A laboratory-produced synthetic nutrient identical to a vitamin
- A cosmetic ingredient with nutritional claims
Correct Answer: A food-derived product providing health benefits beyond basic nutrition
Q2. Which of the following is a primary category of nutraceuticals?
- Antibiotics
- Probiotics
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Analgesics
Correct Answer: Probiotics
Q3. Which nutraceutical primarily modulates gut microbiota and enhances intestinal health?
- Phytosterols
- Probiotics
- Omega‑3 fatty acids
- Vitamin D
Correct Answer: Probiotics
Q4. Prebiotics are best described as:
- Live microorganisms that colonize the gut
- Non-digestible food components that stimulate beneficial gut bacteria
- Enzymes that break down proteins in the stomach
- Synthetic peptides used as supplements
Correct Answer: Non-digestible food components that stimulate beneficial gut bacteria
Q5. Which nutraceutical class is most associated with lowering LDL cholesterol by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption?
- Polyphenols
- Phytosterols
- Probiotics
- Coenzyme Q10
Correct Answer: Phytosterols
Q6. Which mechanism is commonly attributed to polyphenols such as flavonoids?
- Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity
- Direct insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells
- Acting as anticoagulants
- Replacing essential amino acids
Correct Answer: Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity
Q7. Which omega‑3 fatty acid is most potent for triglyceride reduction in clinical studies?
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- Linoleic acid (LA)
Correct Answer: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
Q8. Standardization of herbal nutraceuticals typically involves:
- Adjusting pH to a neutral value
- Quantifying one or more marker compounds to ensure batch consistency
- Removing all volatile oils
- Converting plant material into synthetic analogs
Correct Answer: Quantifying one or more marker compounds to ensure batch consistency
Q9. Which delivery system can improve the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble nutraceuticals like curcumin?
- Immediate-release tablets without excipients
- Lipid-based formulations or nanoemulsions
- Plain aqueous suspensions
- Compressed large-particle granules
Correct Answer: Lipid-based formulations or nanoemulsions
Q10. The term “GRAS” in regulatory context stands for:
- Generally Regulated As Safe
- Generally Recognized As Safe
- Governmental Registered Additive Standard
- Global Registration and Safety
Correct Answer: Generally Recognized As Safe
Q11. Which assay is commonly used to estimate antioxidant capacity of nutraceutical extracts in vitro?
- ELISA for cytokines
- DPPH radical scavenging assay
- MIC determination
- HPLC assay for amino acids
Correct Answer: DPPH radical scavenging assay
Q12. A synbiotic product contains:
- Only vitamins and minerals
- Both probiotics and prebiotics
- Two strains of antibiotics
- Enzymes and amino acids
Correct Answer: Both probiotics and prebiotics
Q13. Which nutraceutical is commonly recommended for bone health and calcium absorption?
- Vitamin D
- Curcumin
- Green tea extract
- Omega‑6 fatty acids
Correct Answer: Vitamin D
Q14. What is a major safety concern when patients take high‑dose omega‑3 supplements?
- Hyperkalemia
- Increased bleeding risk or antiplatelet interaction
- Severe hypoglycemia
- Acute renal failure
Correct Answer: Increased bleeding risk or antiplatelet interaction
Q15. Which quality control test assesses microbial contamination of probiotic nutraceuticals?
- FTIR spectroscopy
- Total viable count and absence of pathogens
- Karl Fischer titration
Correct Answer: Total viable count and absence of pathogens
Q16. Bioavailability enhancement techniques for nutraceuticals include all EXCEPT:
- Particle size reduction
- Use of permeation enhancers
- Enteric coating to prevent stomach release when not needed
- Increasing food processing temperature beyond decomposition point
Correct Answer: Increasing food processing temperature beyond decomposition point
Q17. Which nutraceutical is known for potential interactions with statin therapy and may help alleviate statin-induced myopathy?
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
- Vitamin C
- Iron supplements
- Melatonin
Correct Answer: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Q18. In clinical trials, evidence hierarchy places which type of study highest for demonstrating efficacy of a nutraceutical?
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- In vitro cell culture study
- Case report
- Open-label observational study
Correct Answer: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Q19. Which analytical technique is commonly used for quantifying marker phytochemicals in herbal nutraceuticals?
- HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)
- Gram staining
- pH meter reading
- Light microscopy only
Correct Answer: HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)
Q20. Which statement correctly differentiates a functional food from a nutraceutical?
- Functional foods are pharmaceutical formulations; nutraceuticals are only foods
- Functional foods are regular foods with added health benefits; nutraceuticals are concentrated products derived from foods
- There is no regulatory or conceptual difference at all
- Functional foods must be prescription-only
Correct Answer: Functional foods are regular foods with added health benefits; nutraceuticals are concentrated products derived from foods
Q21. Which vitamin is fat‑soluble and requires dietary fat for optimal absorption when taken as a nutraceutical?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin A
- Biotin
Correct Answer: Vitamin A
Q22. Adulteration of herbal nutraceuticals often involves:
- Adding permitted excipients only
- Contamination with heavy metals or addition of undeclared pharmaceuticals
- Reducing moisture content to improve shelf life
- Standardizing marker compounds appropriately
Correct Answer: Contamination with heavy metals or addition of undeclared pharmaceuticals
Q23. Which probiotic genus is most commonly used in fermented dairy nutraceuticals?
- Staphylococcus
- Lactobacillus
- Pseudomonas
- Bacillus anthracis
Correct Answer: Lactobacillus
Q24. Which statutory body in India regulates nutraceuticals, functional foods and dietary supplements?
- CDSCO
- FSSAI
- EPA
- EMA
Correct Answer: FSSAI
Q25. Which component acts as a typical prebiotic substrate?
- Sucrose
- Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
- Casein
- Glucose
Correct Answer: Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
Q26. Curcumin’s clinical utility is limited mainly by:
- High aqueous solubility
- Poor oral bioavailability due to low absorption and rapid metabolism
- Excessive protein binding that prevents action
- Excessively high potency causing toxicity at microdoses
Correct Answer: Poor oral bioavailability due to low absorption and rapid metabolism
Q27. Which shelf‑life factor is most critical for maintaining probiotic viability in a nutraceutical product?
- Light exposure only
- Temperature and moisture control
- Color of packaging design
- Marketing claims on label
Correct Answer: Temperature and moisture control
Q28. Which claim type requires high-level clinical evidence and is often restricted for nutraceutical labeling?
- Nutrient content claim (e.g., “high in vitamin C”)
- Structure/function claim
- Disease risk reduction or therapeutic claim
- Flavor description
Correct Answer: Disease risk reduction or therapeutic claim
Q29. Which nutraceutical is a lipophilic antioxidant often used in cardiovascular support formulations?
- Ascorbic acid
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
- Folic acid
- Niacinamide
Correct Answer: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Q30. When counselling a patient on combining herbal nutraceuticals with prescription drugs, the pharmacist should:
- Assume there are never interactions and proceed
- Advise based on documented interaction risks, monitor, and consult prescriber if needed
- Automatically stop all prescription drugs
- Recommend doubling the dose of the herbal product for efficacy
Correct Answer: Advise based on documented interaction risks, monitor, and consult prescriber if needed
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com