Food Supplements: Composition, Health Benefits, Adulteration, and Safety

Dear Colleagues

The consumption of food supplements, also known as dietary supplements, has been rising in recent years, driven by consumers’ increasing interest in health and wellness, among other factors. In parallel to this growth, concerns regarding food supplement composition, adulteration, and their health benefits and potential side effects have also become increasingly prominent. Among those, the most common concern is regarding adulterations, i.e., the insufficient amount of functional ingredients and the presence of contaminants such as pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. Adulterations mainly comprise the botanical adulteration of plant food supplements and the illegal addition of drugs to boost the effect of the product.

In addition, there is still a lack of information on consumption and consumers’ awareness regarding these products, as well as on several other aspects such as their nutritional properties, bioavailability, potential health benefits, and possible side effects.

This Special Issue aims to address these critical aspects by inviting original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that contribute to our understanding of food supplements and their impact on human health.

Dr. Joana S. Amaral
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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